A day after the Centre slashed the price of LPG cylinders by Rs 200 ahead of the festive season, Opposition parties sharply reacted to the decision. Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda on Wednesday took a swipe over the decision and said that this is just 'loot badi chhoot chhoti' (big loot and small relief). He further said that in 2014, the rate (of LPG) was Rs 400. It is now Rs 1100. “In 2014, the rate (of LPG) was Rs 400. It is now Rs 1100 , which will be slashed by Rs 200. This is just 'loot badi chhoot chhoti' (big loot and small relief),” Hooda said, as quoted by news agency PTI.






Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said that when the BJP was in the Opposition, it used to scream over the prices of LPG cylinders. "I must congratulate the PM for at last thinking of giving a gift to the women on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. Secondly, when they (BJP) were in the opposition, they used to scream over the prices of LPG cylinders, which were at Rs 450-460 back then," Sibal said, as quoted by PTI.






Janata Dal (United) leader Neeraj Kumar said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given "political painkillers" by slashing the rates of LPG. “Now that elections are nearing in several states, he (PM Modi) is giving political painkillers by slashing (LPG) rates,” said Neeraj Kumar, as quoted by PTI.






Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said that as the elections draw near, the prices of fuel will also get reduced. "First increase the price from Rs 400 to Rs 1,180, then slash it by Rs 200. As the election nears, fuel prices will also get reduced," Digvijaya Singh said, as quoted by PTI.






TMC MP Saugata Roy said, "Price reduction will definitely help the common man and the middle-class but it has been done very late by a desperate government who feels that the ground is slipping from under their feet," as quoted by PTI. 






At a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Centre arrived at the decision at a time when the nation is celebrating Onam and ahead of rakhi. 


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The Centre's move comes right before the elections in the five states — Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Manipur — and barely nine months before the Lok Sabha polls next year. The Opposition has been cornering the government over the sky-high prices of cylinders. The Congress regularly questions the BJP on its stand before and after coming to power in 2014 over the price of LPG cylinders.