Bring petrol, diesel prices under the GST regime: Rahul Gandhi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi stays unimpressed by the fuel price cut announced by the government on Thursday and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring petrol and diesel prices under the ambit of Goods and Service Tax regime.
“Respected Modiji, the general public is very upset with the skyrocketing prices of petrol and diesel. Please bring petrol-diesel under the GST regime,” he wrote in a tweet.
The Centre announced a cut of Rs 2.50 per litre on petrol and diesel prices by reducing excise duty. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley urged the states to match the move. Several BJP ruling states followed, giving an overall relief of Rs 5 per litre to the consumer.
Former finance minister P Chidambaram tweeted, “An oil revenue dependent government has belatedly realised the unbearable burden on the people and indulged in tokenism.”
Congress calling it a panic reaction stated that ‘it is an election gimmick’. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, “After inflicting a thousand wounds, Modi Government applies band-aid of a marginal cut in the prices of petrol and diesel.”
Bring petrol, diesel under GST: Rahul Gandhi to PM Modi https://t.co/ybRfAqsc5O pic.twitter.com/1TFguys5KN
— Times of India (@timesofindia) October 5, 2018
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “The Modi government increased excise duty (on fuel) by Rs 10 per litre but reduced by just Rs 2.50 per litre. This is cheating. The Central government must reduce at least Rs 10 per litre.”
Sitaram Yechury leader of Communist Party of India (Marxist) said, “Since 2014, when Modi came to power, he has increased taxes on petrol by Rs 12 and on diesel by Rs 14. Yesterday’s cut is only Rs 1.50. If taxes at pre-2014 levels, petrol will be Rs 70/ litre. Charade, PR and trying to fool us all, amidst the economic disaster they have created.”
Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had previously mentioned that the government has considered bringing fuel prices under GST but no decision has been taken by the GST council. Bringing it in the ambit GST will do away with excise duty charged by Centre, VAT by states and dealer commissions.
