The Druk Phuensum Tshogpa’s President and the Senior Party leaders are in the capital to discuss the impact of the sudden withdrawal of LPG and kerosene subsidy by the Government of India, a release from DPT says.
They returned back to Thimphu, cutting short their campaign, after the Government of India withdrew their subsidy and the price for Kerosene and LPG doubled from July 2.
The Party Leaders will also further review and discuss the disturbing turn of events unfolding in the country that may have serious consequences for Bhutan in the future, says the release.
“The lifting of subsidy which immediately impacts about 360,000 Bhutanese and approximately 76,000 households is of greater concern than the election campaign,” the DPT President Jigmi Y.Thinley said. He said this needs to be addressed immediately as the affected majority are poor people. “It will have a direct adverse impact on some of the most vulnerable segment of our population. This is of far greater significance and importance to me than even the election results.”
Jigmi Y.Thinley also said that he called up the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government to express his concern and to ask for intervention in the matter. The Chief Advisor of the Interim Government is currently pursuing the matter with the External Affairs Ministry of the Government of India.
The President further added that because the PDP put the blame for the supposedly strained relations between Bhutan and India squarely on the DPT Government the issue merited a serious, detailed and thorough deliberation within the party. He said that whatever decision the party took would be in the best interest of the Kings, the Country and the People.
