Political parties have come out against the Union Government’s move to recommence the Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG consumer (DBTL) in the Union Territory of Puducherry. They demanded that the Centre reconsider the decision. The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Sunday announced that it would re-launch DBTL scheme in Puducherry from November 15. The scheme was implemented during UPA regime and was later stopped in middle of 2013. Communist Party of India (CPI), Puducherry unit secretary R.Viswanathan accused Chief Minister N. Rangasamy of doing a volte face by extending support to the scheme being resumed by the BJP-led Government after opposing it along with Left parties when it was introduced in 2013 by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
Urging the Union Government to withdraw the move, Communist Party of India(Marxist) CPI (M) secretary V. Perumal said the public would be affected in the Union Territory by the move of the Union government. He also said the centre should not see Puducherry as a testing ground to roll out the scheme. There were a lot of consumers yet to receive the subsidy component when UPA Government introduced the scheme in 2013.
Addressing media here, the leaders wanted Mr. Rangasamy to ask the centre to remove several lacuna in the scheme. DMK organiser M.A.S. Subramanian pointed out that the scheme was stopped in the UPA regime due to strong opposition from people and there were several instances of subsidy component not credited into the account of the consumers and were made to run from pillar to post to receive the subsidy. The Left leaders also said their party would launch a mass movement against the wrong policies of Narendra Modi-led Government from December 12.
