In preparation for next year's Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament) elections, the Indian government decided on Tuesday to reduce the price of cooking liquefied petroleum gas by 200 rupees per cylinder. The Modi government described this decision as a Raksha Bandhan (Protection Bond festival) gift to the "sisters" of the nation. However, the opposition accuses the Modi government of using national resources for a political "show".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the Raksha Bandhan festival is a day to enhance familial happiness, and the reduction in the price of liquefied gas will increase the comfort of women, making their lives easier.
Supriya Sule, a leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), said that over the past few years, the Modi government has never considered the impact of inflation on the people, and the decision to reduce the price of cooking gas is a "political gimmick". The reason for the Modi government's decision, according to her, is the recent electoral defeat in Karnataka.
Asaduddin Owaisi, chairman of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), stated that the substantial funds that should have subsidized the liquefied gas expenses of the populace were spent by the Modi government on the G20 summit.
The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), comprised of 26 opposition parties including the Indian National Congress, aims to combat the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and to prevent Modi from winning a central term for the third consecutive time in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, said that although the India political party alliance has only held two meetings in the past two months, its existence has already forced the Modi government to start paying attention to livelihood issues. Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the Congress party, mocked the Modi government, stating that the reduction in liquefied gas prices was a political "show" aimed at garnering votes.
