Ahmedabad: Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday rejected claims that fuel pricing is influenced by elections, saying there is “no connection” between the two.
Speaking at a conference in Gujarat, Puri said the government has not altered retail petrol and diesel prices and has worked to ensure there is no shortage of cooking fuel in Indian households. He added that the government would not allow panic to turn into policy.
Responding to allegations that prices are being kept in check due to elections, the minister noted that India has gone through several elections over the past four years. He reiterated that electoral considerations do not determine fuel prices.
Puri said the government would take decisions when required, while the Prime Minister’s plan is to ensure piped gas access for 33 crore homes. He also said crude oil procurement has been expanded from 27 countries to 41, and LPG purchases have begun from the US, Norway and Algeria in addition to West Asian suppliers.
He said India moved quickly to raise LPG output by issuing directions to refineries and increasing domestic production by 60%. Even as crude import prices rose following the West Asia conflict, he said the Centre acted to prevent people from being hit by fuel price increases, including facilitating the passage of Indian LPG-laden ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
