JMM protests over LPG ‘crisis’, price hike

Ranchi: Ruling alliance MLAs on Friday staged a protest inside and outside the assembly over the alleged shortage of LPG gas cylinders and price hike.

Health minister Irfan Ansari arrived in the House drawing a rickshaw, with another minister, Shilpi Neha Trikey, sitting on it with a poster in her hand.


As the proceedings began, ruling party MLAs stood on their seats and shouted slogans against the Centre. MLA Pradeep Yadav, while citing a newspaper report, said there was a shortage of gas, adding that midday meals for students were also affected. He said the situation was caused by the wrong policies of central govt.

Leader of opposition Babulal Marandi countered the allegation, saying there was no shortage of gas in the state. He said ministers were creating anarchy over the situation. He said that while Congress members did not participate in debates in Parliament, their state-level leaders created disorder in the assembly.

Marandi claimed there was enough fuel reserves to meet the country's requirement for one month. MLA Saryu Roy said it was the state govt which claimed there was no shortage of gas.

Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato, however, requested that the issue should be dropped for the present and started running the House according to schedule.

Earlier, ruling party MLAs sat on dharna in front of the House with posters and banners displaying various slogans, including "Sansad se Narendra gayab and desh se cylinder gayab".

Agriculture minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey said the common people were most affected by the fuel price hike, adding that if the situation persisted for long, it would have a grave impact on the country's economy. Ansari said his protest against inflation would continue.