Opposition Slams Reduction in Subsidised LPG Cylinders Under Ujjwala Scheme
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accuses the Centre of weakening support for poor families after reducing the number of subsidised LPG cylinders available under the Ujjwala Yojana.
New Delhi: The Central Government has reduced the number of subsidised LPG cylinders available annually under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), drawing sharp criticism from opposition parties.
According to opposition leaders, beneficiaries who were originally promised 12 subsidised LPG cylinders per year will now receive only four. The issue has triggered a political debate, with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accusing the government of failing to support economically weaker sections.
In a post on social media platform X, Kharge criticised the Narendra Modi government, claiming that measures introduced over the past several years have made life more difficult for poor families. He argued that the reduction in subsidised cylinders contradicts the original promises made when the scheme was launched.
Kharge recalled that when the Ujjwala Yojana was introduced in 2016, it was promoted as a major initiative to help women move away from traditional cooking methods that exposed them to harmful smoke from firewood stoves. He said the scheme initially promised 12 subsidised cylinders annually, which was later reduced to nine and has now reportedly been brought down to four.
He described the move as a significant departure from the government’s original commitment, stating that the promise of 12 cylinders has effectively been reduced to only four in practice.
The Congress leader also raised concerns about rising LPG prices, arguing that repeated price increases have placed an additional burden on low income households. He claimed that millions of beneficiaries are unable to afford refilling their cylinders and are being forced to return to traditional cooking methods.
Kharge further alleged that the government’s policies are negatively affecting poor families and accused the ruling administration of being disconnected from the hardships faced by ordinary citizens.
The reduction in subsidised LPG support is expected to remain a key issue in the ongoing political debate over welfare schemes and the cost of living in the country.