Coming down heavily against exiting Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for ordering an “unconstitutional” FIR against him and others for raising gas prices, oil minister M Veerappa Moily said on Friday the government will not go back on its decision to hike rates from April 1.
“Where is the question of stalling or stopping anything. It (the decision to raise gas prices for both public sector and private producers) has gone through a governance process ... it was considered by Cabinet twice and approved twice,” Moily told reporters.
The new rates, which are likely to be at $8-8.4 against the current price of $4.2 per million British thermal unit, are based on the recommendations of a committee that was appointed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the request of Moily’s predecessor, S Jaipal Reddy.
Earlier this week, Kejriwal had ordered filing of a police complaint against Moily, Reliance Industries and its chairman Mukesh Ambani for creating an artificial shortage of gas in the country and raising prices.
“I don’t think Delhi government is our appellate authority. What they are doing is totally unconstitutional. And it is definitely against the principles of federalism,” Moily said. He said the FIR was “a very clear case that they are exercising powers which are extra-constitutional and rather I would say it is contrary to constitutional provisions.”
{{/usCountry}}“I don’t think Delhi government is our appellate authority. What they are doing is totally unconstitutional. And it is definitely against the principles of federalism,” Moily said. He said the FIR was “a very clear case that they are exercising powers which are extra-constitutional and rather I would say it is contrary to constitutional provisions.”
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