Petrol will be cheaper if opposition-ruled states cut taxes on fuel instead of imported liquor: Union Min Hardeep Singh Puri

New Delhi: While fuel prices continued to burn hole in pockets of consumers, Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said that Petrol will be cheaper if opposition-ruled states cut taxes on fuel instead of imported liquor.

“Maharashtra government imposes Rs 32.15/ltr on petrol & Congress-ruled Rajasthan Rs 29.10. But BJP ruled Uttarakhand levies only Rs 14.51 & UP Rs 16.50,” said Puri.
“Maharashtra Govt has collected Rs 79,412 cr as fuel taxes since 2018 & is expected to collect Rs 33,000 cr this year. (Adding up to Rs 1,12,757 cr). Why did it not reduce VAT on petrol & diesel to provide relief to people?” Tweeted the minister.

Puri had earlier said the petrol price was deregulated in 2010 when Congress government was in power and deregulation of diesel prices was done in 2014 during the NDA government. He added while the Centre collects excise duty, the states collect VAT.

Puri claimed that the excise duty was increased during the pandemic for a peculiar reason to meet the requirement that emerged due to the Covid-19.

Later, the Centre reduced the excise duty and BJP- states also reduced their VAT corresponding with Centre.