In What Appears To Be Coordinated Action, All BJP-Ruled States Reduce Fuel Prices By Rs 5

All Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh announced a cut in taxes of petrol and diesel in their states bringing down the prices by a total of Rs 5 after the centre announced Rs 2.5 cut in prices, India Today has reported.

BJP president Amit Shah congratulated BJP’s chief ministers for being responsive to the public on the issue of rising fuel prices. Yesterday (4 September), the central government and oil marketing companies decided to bear Rs 1.50 and Rs 1 of the oil price burden respectively.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley while speaking at a press conference said that the government would effect a Rs 1.50 cut on excise duty on petrol and diesel. Apart from that the government is also reported to have asked the oil marketing companies (OMC) to absorb a deduction of Re 1 on both petrol and diesel.

He also urged states to take a cut in sales tax or VAT on fuel. The excise duty cut will cost the centre Rs 10,500 crore, he added. Taxes on petrol and diesel is one of the biggest source of revenue for the government comprises of about one-third of the cost.

The move by the BJP ruled states to reduce prices by Rs 5 has sparked a debate as to why states where opposition parties are in power, have not announced any relief for the common citizen.