Election Commissions letter to government on increase in cap of cooking gas cylinders

In a letter to oil Minister Veerappa Moily, the Election Commission has sought an explanation on the government's decision to increase the cap of subsidised cooking gas cylinders from the present six cylinders to nine cylinders. Below is the letter:

Shri Veerappa Moily,
Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas,
Government of India,
Shastri Bhawan,
New Delhi.

Sub.: Reported announcement regarding increase in supply of subsidized gas cylinders during election period - Violation of Model Code of Conduct - reg..

Sir,

            The Commission has come across media reports this afternoon which quoted you saying that the supply of subsidized cylinders to each household is being raised by the central government from the present level of six cylinders to nine cylinders in a year.

As you are aware, election process to the legislative assemblies of the States of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh is currently on and the Model Code of Conduct is in operation. 

The Commission has taken strong exception to your aforesaid announcement when the first phase of polling in the State of Gujarat is only two days away.  The Commission has desired that you explain your above action at this juncture. 

The Commission has already directed Secretary, Petroleum to stop forthwith any move to raise the cap on the supply of subsidized gas cylinders. At the same time, the Commission desires that your explanation in this matter should reach the Commission by11:00 AM tomorrow.

Yours faithfully,
(Harbans Singh)