BJP lashes out at Opposition for unchanged fuel prices in states

BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia criticised Opposition-ruled states for not reducing VAT on petrol and diesel even as BJP-ruled states slashed prices following the Centre's announcement a reduction in central levies on petrol by ₹5 a litre and diesel by ₹10 a litre from Thursday. Bhatia hit out at the Trinamool Congress and the Aam Admi Party for not lowering VAT even as Uttar Pradesh had slashed rates on petrol and diesel by ₹12 and Assam and Gujarat had gone with a ₹7 decrease.

"In Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and Rajasthan people want to know why such steps have not been taken by the state governments…The steps that were taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and emulated by BJP-ruled states are not being implemented by other governments," Bhatia said during an address to the media on Friday.

According to data compiled by state-run oil companies as of Friday evening, VAT remained unchanged in 14 states and Union territories -- Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Meghalaya, Andaman & Nicobar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, and Rajasthan. However, at night, Odisha announced a ₹3 per litre reduction in VAT on both petrol and diesel from midnight.

Bhatia also referenced Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's tweet in which he had demanded the Center further reduce excise duties, as he sought to remind states that they also had a responsibility to their people just as they have a share in the collection of tax. VAT tax is decided by the states.

Neanwhile, the Shiv Sena, which shares power with the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress in Maharashtra, criticised the reduction in petrol price by ₹5 as too little. Party spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Thursday said that the Centre should have reduced it by "at least ₹25 per litre to provide relief to people… They (Centre) realised that prices need to be slashed after they lost the bypolls".

Kerala has also refused to slash VAT of fuel prices citing severe economic crisis said state Finance Minister K.N Balagopal on Friday. In Kerala, petrol price was reduced by Rs 6.57 and diesel by Rs 12.33. The minister, in a statement, said that for any real difference to be made, the Union government should cut the special tax and cess of Rs 30 per litre levied by it on diesel and petrol.