BJP chief corners Cong on fuel rates

HOSHIARPUR: Punjab BJP president Shwait Malik on Saturday said the Congress government had exposed itself by deferring its decision to reduce petrol and diesel prices.

Addressing the media during party’s padyatra, he said, the state government should have immediately matched the cut by slashing VAT but it was dilly dallying the issue.

“Instead of reciprocating positively to the move, the Congress is bashing the Centre that brought a relief to the public by reducing excise duty. After all, the states bag maximum share of the revenue collected through sale of petroleum products,” he said. If the Bjp-ruled states can cut the prices, why the Congress-run government could not do so, he asked.

Raising question on the competency of state finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, he said Punjab had been suffering a huge loss of revenue due to the wide difference in petroleum prices in the state and Chandigarh. “Harping on empty coffers will not do. Whose duty it is to fill the treasury?” he asked, alleging that the Congress had done nothing to mobilise resources.

Malik said Captain Amarinder Singh’s party is questioning his leadership. “Earlier it was Partap Singh Bajwa and now Navjot Kaur Sidhu has criticised the government. The CM is inaccessible even to his own ministers and MLAS,” he added.