Coming down intensely against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for purchasing an “unconstitutional” FIR against him & others for increasing gas prices, Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily today said the govt will not go back on its decision to increase rates from Apr 1.
“Where is the query of stalling down or stopping anything? It (the decision to increase gas price for both public sector & private producers) has gone through a governance procedure …It was considered by Cabinet twice & approved twice,” Moily informed journalists on the side lines of an incident here.
The new prices, which are likely to be at $8-8.4 against the present price of $4.2 per million British thermal unit, are in based with the suggestions of a panel that was hired by Primary Reverend Manmohan Singh at the demand of Moily’s forerunner, S Jaipal Reddy.
Earlier this week, Kejriwal had requested processing of a police complaint against Moily, Reliance Industries & its Chairman Mukesh Ambani for developing a synthetic lack of gas in the country & increasing costs.
“I don’t think Delhi govt is our appellate authority. What they are doing is completely unconstitutional. And it is definitely against the principles of federalism,” he said.
He said the FIR was “a very clear situation that they are exercising powers which are extra-constitutional & rather I would say it is as opposed to constitutional provisions.”
Moily said the decision to allow PSU firms like Oil & Natural Gas Corporation as well as Reliance Industries Ltd a rate equivalent to the average cost prevailing at international gas hubs & cost of importing the fuel into India in last 12 months, are based the suggestions of a panel headed by Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister Chairman C Rangarajan.
“It is definitely depending on suggestions created by the Dr Rangarajan Committee. He is an eminent economist & he has gone through the mills. And I have not changed even a term or a full stop or a comma from the suggestions. So where is the query of Moily’s judgment (on increasing gas prices)?
“The Rangarajan Committee was appointed by Mr Jaipal Reddy who was the (Oil) Minister. I have not appointed the committee to match my needs,” Moily included.
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