Painful increase

This refers to the third hike in the price of commercial gas cylinders in our country. No doubt, every nation is forced to make hard choices to increase the fuel and gas cylinder tariff.

After the increase in prices of commercial gas cylinders in March & April 2026, the NDA government had assured that hereafter, there would be no further hike in cost of fuels and gas cylinders. Alas, as usual, the NDA government too waited for the final phase of elections in West Bengal on 29th April and jacked the prices of gas cylinders by Rs993 on commercial gas cylinders, which is a real blow to the common man, in every way. But the worst affected is going to be the hoteliers, who have been pushed from the frying pan into the fire.

Ironically, though the opposition leaders do shed crocodile tears and criticise the BJP government, none of them is prepared to reduce their State level taxes to give some relief to the common man. Incidentally, while the central government and oil companies waste no time in increasing the fuel rates, based on the international rates, they seldom pass on the benefit, when the international rates come down. Preaching is always easy for all these political leaders.

By the by, as in the demand of "One Nation, One Vote", why can't the BJP government come out with "One Nation, One Rate" for all fuel and gas cylinder rates? Why is there a difference between the rates in New Delhi and other States in our country?

Capt. N. Viswanthan, Coimbatore, India