New Delhi, Jan 2 (IANS): The CPI-M Thursday denounced as "totally unjustified" the hike in prices of unsubsidized gas cylinders and asked the government not to link LPG supply with Aadhar cards.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist said the price hike of Rs.220 on every unsubsidized liquefied petroleum gas cylinder by oil companies "will be an intolerable burden on people".

"Since there is a ceiling on subsidized cylinders at nine, people have to now buy gas cylinders at exorbitant prices."

It said that the oil companies' insistence that Aadhar identification number was required for getting subsidized gas cylinders "is illegal and unauthorized".

"It is another way to deprive households from access to gas cylinders. It goes against the Supreme Court judgement to keep the Aadhar use in abeyance till a final verdict.

"The union government should immediately step in to stop this linkage of supply of subsidized gas cylinders with Aadhar."