The BJP today said the government hasonly put its decision to hike LPG prices on hold, and notrolled back the proposal, in the wake of the elections inHimachal Pradesh and insisted that this anti-people andanti-women decision would prove costly for the Congress.
Speaking at a press conference here, Leader of Oppositionin Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said, "The Central government hasmade anti-people moves and called them reforms. They hiked theprice of diesel, then hiked the price of LPG and also put acap on number of cylinders, and allowed FDI in multi-brandretail."
He described the Centre's political thinking as "strange"for calling these measures reforms.
"Three days before the polls here, the government hikedLPG prices by Rs 26 per cylinder. Besides being unfair, thisis anti-people and especially anti-women," Jaitley said,adding that when at midnight the government realised itspolitical implications it announced withdrawal of thedecision.
"But the government has not rolled back the decision. They have said they are putting it on hold. I believe it willbe on hold for only 72 hours. After 5 pm on November 4 theywill allow it. Such a government should be taught a lesson. Wewill give them (Congress) a crushing defeat," Jaitley said.
He claimed that the people of Himachal Pradesh have asense of satisfaction towards the Prem Kumar Dhumal governmentin the state and all its anger is towards the Centre.
Jaitley maintained that corruption indulged by theministers of the UPA government is a major issue in theAssembly elections here. He said the Dhumal government had runseveral schemes for the benefit of the people and this willhelp the BJP win the polls.