Centre is saving money for welfare schemes, Pradhan on fuel prices

Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday agreed that the steep rise of petrol and diesel prices were a problem, but said that since government expenses are up due to Covid relief measures, “the Centre is saving money to spend on welfare schemes” Speaking to media at a function in New Delhi, he said “I accept that fuel prices are pinching consumers, there’s no doubt about this. But over Rs 35,000 crore has been been spent on Covid vaccines in a year. Rs 1 lakh crore has been spent on Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Yojana in order to provide eight months’ ration to the poor. A few thousand crores of rupees have also been transferred to farmers’ bank accounts under PM Kisan…In such dire times, we’re saving money to spend on welfare schemes,”Pradhan said, “Rahul Gandhi must answer why fuel prices are high in Congress-ruled states like Punjab, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. If he is so concerned about the poor, he should instruct the Maharashtra CM to reduce taxes, as fuel prices are very high in Mumbai.”

Earlier, the minister inaugurated a Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) based Medical Oxygen Generating Plant and Booster Unit at Maharaj Agrasen Hospital in Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi. The plant has been set up by Indraprastha Gas Limited, the largest CNG distribution company of the country as a part of its CSR programe. This plant can also be used to fill oxygen cylinders. Six more PSA based plants are being set up in Delhi by various oil and gas PSUs. Speaking on the occasion, Pradhan said that PSA based oxygen plants are being set up across the country. He said that this is part of an overall strategy to be ready for any possibility of a third wave of COVID-19 pandemic in the country. He called for all stakeholders of the society to join hands and make vaccination a ‘Jan Andolan’.