The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) issued the following statement on January 2, 2014.

THE price hike of Rs 220 on an unsubsidised gas cylinder by the oil companies is totally unjustified and will be an intolerable burden on people already suffering from price rise. Since there is a ceiling on subsidised cylinders at nine, people have to now buy gas cylinders at exorbitant prices.

Further, the insistence of the oil companies that Aadhar identification number is required for getting subsidised gas cylinders is illegal and unauthorised. It is another way to deprive households of access to gas cylinders. It goes against the Supreme Court’s judgement to keep the Aadhar use in abeyance till a final verdict.

The union government should immediately step in to stop this linkage of supply of subsidised gas cylinders with Aadhar.