LUCKNOW: Union minister of state (independent charge) for petroleum Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said the affluent accounted for only 3% of the over 1 crore people who had given up their LPG subsidy in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal.
"The rest is constituted by the middle-class and lower income groups. Teachers, professionals and middle-level government employees have shown more interest as compared to HNIs (high-net worth individuals)," Pradhan told TOI while he was in Lucknow on his way to Ballia to oversee preparations for PM Modi’s visit on May 1.
"Those affluent people who did not give up their subsidy display the same mentality as the rajas and nawabs, who sided with the British and refused to partake in the freedom struggle," the minister added.
He added his ministry would once again appeal to people to join the movement to give up their subsidy.