The Congress party, who is a part of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state, has demanded to reduce the value-added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel.
Following the Central government’s announcement to reduce the fuel rates, majority of the BJP-ruled states also declared to cut down the prices of VAT on petrol and diesel.
However, Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole at a press conference on Wednesday, November 17, demanded that state government should also reduce prices on the lines of Punjab and Rajasthan. Both the Congress-ruled states have cut the VAT after the Centre reduced excise duty on petrol by INR 5 and diesel by INR 10 per litre.
He also urged the Centre to bring the auto fuel under the GST regime.
Patole also argued that petrol should have been priced at INR 60 per litre in view of the declining crude oil prices in the international market. However, the Central government is not keen on giving any relief to the public and is thereby damaging the economy.
Patole made these statement two days after Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said the state government is unlikely to reduce VAT on petrol and diesel in Maharashtra. In addition, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has opposed bringing auto fuel under the GST regime.
The ruling parties have been blaming the Centre for the higher excise, cess on fuel and non-payment of the dues in GST compensation.
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