Vehicle owners can pay for fuel: Alphons

Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam on Saturday said the Centre was mobilising resources for launching infrastructure projects and welfare measures for the poor and downtrodden in the country.

The money collected as taxes, goes for implementing welfare schemes for the poor, he said, adding this was to enable them have a dignified life.

“To make houses and toilets and to get electricity to every village... it is going to cost enormous amount of money. So we are going to tax people who can afford to pay,” he said.

On the rise in petrol prices, the minister queried, “Who buys petrol? Somebody with a car, somebody with a bike. Certainly, they are not starving. Somebody who can afford to pay has to pay.”

Asked about the increase in prices of essential commodities in the wake of fuel price hike, Kannanthanam said the four per cent inflation rate in the country was less than half per cent prescribed by the RBI.

He said the tax on petroleum products could come down if it was brought under the ambit of GST.

However, states were not ready to bring liquor and petroleum products under GST, the said.

The minister said the Centre would consider bringing petroleum and liquor under the GST, if state governments agree to it.

The main focus of the government is the welfare of the poor and downtrodden.

“The government’s programme is to ensure basic amenities including food, shelter, sanitation and education to the poor and this needed crores of rupees,” he said.

The revenue collected from petroleum products was used for implementing projects for them, he added.

“We are going to tax people who can afford to pay (for fuel). Certainly, they are not starving. Yes we are imposing tax on petroleum products. So that poor in the country will have a dignified life.”