News reports are loud and clear today. "Domestic LPG cylinder prices have been hiked by over Rs 50 in Delhi, Mumbai and other cities with effect from Tuesday," News18 and other reports have said. The hike was only to be expected. "14.2 kg Domestic cooking gas LPG price hiked by Rs 50 per cylinder. It will now cost Rs 949.50 effective from today," the news agency ANI reported.

The political fallout is already felt. As reported by national media, MPs from several Opposition parties today walked out of Lok Sabha in protest. In the main, MPs from Congress, DMK and TMC staged a walk-out. Regional parties such as NCP, JMM, CPM, CPI, MDMK and VCK also did the same.

Opposition parties are alleging that the BJP government was waiting for state elections to be over. "The rise has come at a time of record inflation. Now that state elections are over, the BJP government is back to robbing the people of India of their already depleting income," tweeted Dr. Shama Mohamed Congress party's national spokesperson.