New Delhi, Mar 25 (ANI): Lawyer and AAP leader Prashant Bhushan on Tuesday welcomed the move of the Indian Election Commission asking the central government to defer the proposal to hike gas prices which was set to come into effect from April 01 prior to the parliament polls scheduled for next month. A price increase had been due to come into effect on April 1, just days before India starts voting in an election that starts on April 7 and will end on May 12. Bhushan, said that such a catastrophic decision by the government would only help bigwigs like Reliance fill their pockets and would lead the country to face losses. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, who briefly controlled the state government in New Delhi, last month called for a criminal investigation into government officials and Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani over the matter. Kejriwal had also called for the Election Commission to stall the price rise. Bhushan also hailed AAP for its initiative, but condemned the main opposition, Bharatiya Janata Party, for not opposing the hike when it was declared and accused it of being in the pockets of Reliance.