Patna: Union minister Upendra Kushwaha on Sunday once again seemed to change track and speak against the Narendra Modi government.
The RLSP leader had recently sparked speculation that he was ready to ditch the NDA when he had declared that delicious kheer could be made from the milk of Yadavs and rice of Kushwahas.
A few days later, he backtracked by saying he was only talking about caste amity.
"No doubt that the steep increase in petroleum prices is a matter of concern and there has to be serious consideration on the issue," he said on Sunday.
"The way the prices are increasing, it has had an impact on important commodities as their price too has increased."
He also said that due to rise in petroleum prices, inflation has gone up and there is urgent need to think on the issue as it is troubling the common man.
His comments came a day before an all-India bandh - called by the Congress and supported by other Opposition parties - on runaway fuel prices.
The BJP has called the bandh call as a "reckless decision" of the Opposition.
However, Kushwaha of late has made a habit of making the NDA - which his party is a part of - squirm with his statements.
The first salvo was when he insisted that the NDA must hold talks on seat sharing for 2019 as soon as possible.
Though he was snubbed on that front, he has unleashed frequent attacks on the government of chief minister Nitish Kumar.
That seems to indicate that either he is contemplating options beyond the NDA, or trying to make elbow room before the 2019 seat-sharing talks in the alliance.
On Sunday, asked how rising petroleum prices would impact the Narendra Modi government, Kushwaha seemed to hedge.
"Let it be the issue of present time only, but there is need of giving a serious thought on the issue," he said.
He added: "I must say that petroleum prices going up is not a good thing. If required I will also speak to the Prime Minister on the issue."
During the UPA's 10-year rule, the BJP had called three bandhs to protest against rising petroleum prices.
