By PTI
JAIPUR: Amid increasing demands to reduce taxes after reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel by the Centre, the Congress government in Rajasthan on Tuesday night announced slashing VAT to make petrol and diesel cheaper by Rs 4 per litre and Rs 5 per litre, respectively, from midnight.
This will result in annual revenue loss of Rs 3,500 crore to the state.
“In the cabinet meeting today, it was unanimously decided to reduce the rate of VAT on petrol/diesel. After this, the rates will be reduced by Rs 4 per litre in petrol and Rs 5 per litre in diesel from 12 o’clock tonight,” Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot tweeted.
The Centre on November 3 had cut excise duty on petrol by Rs 5 and on diesel by Rs 10 to bring down fuel rates in the country.
Following the excise duty cut, BJP-ruled states, Punjab and Odisha had reduced VAT on fuel to further reduce the prices.
Some Congress-ruled states, including Rajasthan, however, had not cut VAT and had demanded further reduction in central excise duty.
After the Rajasthan cabinet meeting on Tuesday, transport minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said that the decision was taken to give relief to the public.
He targeted the Modi government over the expensive petrol and diesel and alleged that the government was working to weaken states.
Khachariyawas said that there should be a one nation one rate policy for petrol and diesel and the transportation cost should be borne by the Centre.
He said that before Modi government came to power in 2014, the crude oil price in international market was USD 111 per barrel and the rate of petrol in the country was Rs 61 per litre and Rs 59 per litre but when the crude oil price in international market is USD 82 per barrel, the fuel in the country is expensive because the Modi government has increased excise duty by Rs 40-45 per litre in six years.
“The Centre increased excise duty by Rs 40-45 per litre in six years and reduced Rs 10-15 to please people. There should be a one nation one price policy for petrol and diesel in the country and the central government should bear the cost of transporting the fuel,” he told reporters.
He said that people should analyse the policies of the former UPA government led by Manmohan Singh and the present Modi government.
“People are suffering badly due to high inflation and price rise. Apart from petrol and diesel, the rate of LPG cylinders has also increased and the Centre should restart subsidy on cylinders,” he said.
In the Cabinet meeting today, it was unanimously decided to reduce the rate of VAT on petrol/diesel. From 12 o’clock tonight, the rates will be reduced by Rs 4 per liter for petrol and Rs 5 per liter for diesel.
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) November 16, 2021
