Ludhiana, July 29, 2013: In a statement issued here today, Gurudas Das Gupta, MP and General Secretary, AITUC has said, “I have approached the Supreme Court for remedy on the abnormal increase of Natural Gas Prices because of my repeated plea with the Prime Minister I could get only acknowledgement but no assurance for review of the gas prices. If a Senior Member of Parliament is ignored like this by the Chief Executive of the country, there is no other course than to come to judiciary in the interest of common people and the nation.
The prices of the natural gas have been raised suddenly from $ 4.2 mmbtu to $ 8.4.mmbtu to be effective from April 2014 despite the opposition from the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Fertilizers. The Planning Commission and Secretary (Finance) in reply to my queries had denied of having made any calculations in regard to cost and impact on the national economy from the raise of the prices of natural gas double to the existing price.
I am happy that the Court has admitted my petition and issued notices to all the Respondents which includes Petroleum Ministry, Minister himself, Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) among others.
I think the Supreme Court will take steps to correct malpractices and aberrations the Govt. is indulging in, while benefiting the greatest corporate house of the country at the cost of the people.”
Date:
Monday, July 29, 2013