Cong backs Govt on reform, directs its State gov to give subsidy till 9 LPG cylinders

Congress party has backed the government on its reform initiatives and directs its State governments to increase the subsidy cap on LPG from Six cylinders to 12 cylinders per year.

Party President Sonia Gandhi today met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at his residence along with the other members of party core group.
Party Sources have indicated that government would explain to Trinamool Congress ministers the circumstances under which these decisions were taken.
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has sought the total withdrawal of FDI in retail, the slashing of Rs 5 hike in diesel price by Rs 4 or Rs 3 and raise the cap on LPG cylinders from 6 to 12.
After the meeting Congress General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi informed that Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi has asked the congress ruled states to increase the subsidy cap on LPG from Six cylinders to 12 cylinders per year.
There are indications that government will not resort to any major rollback but according to party sources government is open for some symbolic rollback if other allies and parties giving outside support demand so.
All the senior party leaders including prime minister dr Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Defence Minister AK Antony attended the meeting.
Six ministers of Trinamool Congress are slated to resign on Friday afternoon if the government does not roll back its decisions.
Railway Minister Mukul Roy said today that nobody from the Government has spoken to him after Mamata Banerjee decided on withdrawing support last night.
Government's decision to introduce FDI in retail and increasing diesel price as well as capping subsidy on LPG has evoked wide spread opposition from political parties leading to withdrawal of support by Trinamool Congress.

Minutes before the core group meeting began, the Prime Minister held confabulation with deputy chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

Trinamool Congress on Tuesday decided to withdraw its ministers from the Union government and its support.
The second biggest constituent of the UPA with 19 members in Lok Sabha said the party could reconsider its stand if the government rolls back its decisions on FDI, raised the cap on subsidised LPG from six to 12 cylinders besides reducing diesel hike from Rs 5 by Rs 3 or Rs 4.