| Roll back petrol, diesel prices, bring them under GST: UDA | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, June 30: With prices of petrol and diesel being raised for the 22nd day in a row, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) on Tuesday demanded the recent increases should be rolled back and petroleum products be brought under the GST regime.
In a statement issued today, Rajiv Mahajan, Spokesperson United Democratic Alliance (UDA) said that the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG should be reduced to 2004 levels as the crude oil is being sold at a rate prevalent at that time. He asked the Modi dispensation why petrol and diesel were being sold at much higher rates when crude oil prices have gone down to USD 40 a barrel.
“Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government explain why petrol and diesel that cost less than Rs 25 per litre to India, is being sold at steep rates of Rs 80/- per litre for petrol and Rs 80/- per litre for diesel,” he asked.
UDA demanded that the benefit of reduced international crude oil prices should be passed on to the people and the rates of petrol, diesel, LPG should be reduced and it should be brought under the GST.
Mahajan also demanded that the 22nd hike in the Excise Duty of petrol and diesel by the Modi government for the last three weeks on petroleum products should be withdrawn immediately until it is brought under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.
“Petrol and diesel prices have been hiked by Rs 9.17 per litre and Rs 11.14 per litre respectively during the last twenty two days despite crude oil prices being benign,” he said.
UDA leader said, while Indians are battling the coronavirus pandemic and the poor, migrants, farmers, small businessmen and those who lost their jobs struggling to survive the economic ruin, instead of reducing their burden the “anti-people” BJP government is fleecing the people by not just raising fuel rates on daily basis but also refusing to share benefits of lower crude with people.
He said the Modi government must reduce the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG to the level as the current crude oil prices of around USD 45 US is of August 2004 level.
Mahajan mentioned “In August 2004, petrol was Rs 36.81 per litre, diesel Rs 24.16 and LPG Rs 261.60 per cylinder in Delhi, but currently petrol is being sold at Rs 80.43 per litre, diesel at Rs 80.40 per litre and LPG at Rs 616 per cylinder.”
Mahajan alleged that between 2014-15 and 2019-20, the Modi government has hiked taxes on petrol and diesel 22nd times and has collected a whopping Rs 17,80,056 crore. When the people are reeling under difficult conditions, the government has no right to further burden them under high taxation, he said.
The signatories to the statement included Lt Gen (Retd.) Pradeep Singh Mehta, Principal Advisor, Munish Sahni Convener, IG (Retd.) Sudhir Dogra General Secretary, Co- Conveners Col. (Retd.) S.S Pathania, Krishan Manhas, Satish Ponshi, Vikrant Kapoor, Kulbir Singh Slathia, Bharat Bhushan Gupta, Gajan Singh Khajuria, Rajinder Gupta, Rajeev Luthra, DIG (Retd.) Manmohan Singh, Prem Sharma, Vivek Wazir, Rakesh Badyal, Pawan Gupta, Sanjay Jandyal, Varnider Singh Billawria, Yash Khajuria, Col. (Retd) PS Jamwal and Jaswinder Singh (Kuku).
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