The Communist Party of India Marxist denounced the government's decision to hike the price of gas produced by public sector units from UCD 1.8 per unit to USD 4.2 per unit saying it has been done to suit Reliance Industries.

In a statement it was stated that "This doubling of the price in the administered price mechanism APM has been done to bring it in line with the price approved by the government for the gas produced by the Reliance Industries Ltd.”

It said that "The government decision seems motivated to ensure the market for RIL's gas since the lower priced gas of the public sector enterprises would have been more attractive for the power and fertilizer producers. By this step the additional burden of INR 8,000 crore will be passed on to the consumers of power and fertilizers. The transport industry using CNG will also be affected."

(Sourced from HT)