The Congress-led Rajasthan government’s rebranding of the Centre’s Ujjwala scheme as the Indira Gandhi Gas Cylinder Subsidy scheme on Friday has sparked a political slugfest between the ruling party and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who termed it a “political gimmick”.
On April 24, CM Gehlot launched the ‘Mahangai Rahat Camps’, his flagship initiative, for people to benefit from various welfare schemes of the state government.
Of the 10 public welfare schemes providing relief from inflation to the poor, one of them is the cylinder subsidy scheme. Under the scheme, Gehlot said the state government will provide 12 LPG cylinders to those enrolled under the Ujjwala scheme at a subsidised rate of ₹500 each and thus rebranded the scheme as the Indira Gandhi Gas Cylinder Subsidy.
However, the BJP alleged that the Gehlot changed the name to gain political mileage and show loyalty to the Gandhi family.
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Deputy leader of the opposition and BJP MLA Satish Poonia said the decision was aimed at “gaining political mileage”.
“The Gehlot government is changing names of schemes brought by BJP at the Centre and fooling people. Ayushman Bharat was renamed Chiranjeevi Yojana. Our Annapurna scheme was renamed Indira Rasoi, and now the Ujjwala scheme is being renamed for cheap marketing. It is being done to lure voters, but people will not be fooled,” he said.
“The Congress party is in service of the Gandhi family, and all actions are aimed at pleasing them. The Congress cannot move beyond dynastic politics,” said Ramlal Sharma, BJP MLA and spokesperson.
Defending the state government’s decision, food and civil supplies minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said that the Centre gave gas connections under the Ujjwala scheme, whereas the state was giving subsidies to the poor.
“We have not changed the name. We are giving a subsidy of ₹500 to the poor people. So we have named it a subsidy scheme,” he said.
He said that when Congress was in power (at the Centre), a gas cylinder cost ₹400, but today, it costs ₹1150.
“We are providing relief from the high prices under the BJP government. The BJP is worried by the large turnout of people in the camps,” he said.
