Putting tomorrow in spotlight
The best of minds discuss how to address rising prices, improve international relations, tackle mental health issues and navigate challenges of the future Alternative fuels key to cutting rates
Three chief ministers from opposite sides of the political divide on Saturday sought solutions to check rising fuel prices other than measures like including petroleum products within the Goods and Services Tax (GST) ambit.
Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh echoed his Maharashtra counterpart, Devendra Fadnavis, in calling for the use of renewable fuels to deal with the problem. H D Kumaraswamy, the Karnataka chief minister, said bringing petroleum products under GST purview, which will prevent states from imposing value-added taxes on them, was not the solution.
“We have to think about alternatives,’’ said Fadnavis at the 16th Hindustan Leadership Summit here on Saturday. “How long can we continue to use this (high level of) import?’’ he asked in reference to India’s need for importing 80% of its fuel needs. He added cutting down oil imports was the only way of controlling fuel prices. “Oil import can be cut down by 35% by using ethanol. We have an ethanol policy and I think we need to invest more on ethanol,” said Fadnavis. Singh seconded him. “Ethanol is the answer,” he said, referring to the fuel made from corn and other plant materials.
Petrol and diesel prices increased by ₹7.2 and ₹7 per litre in September and triggered fresh demands for bringing them under the GST. The prices are unlikely to go down amid rising cost of crude oil and falling rupee value. The rising prices have given the Opposition parties an opportunity to target the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government ahead of state elections in November and December.
Singhspokeaboutthehighrateofdruguse in Punjab, accusing Pakistan of smuggling narcoticsintostateslikePunjab,Gujaratand Rajasthan to harm India’s youth. Singh insisteditwasbeingdonetoensuretherewere not enough healthy Indians for recruitment into the army. He credited his government’s crackdown for an increase in drug prices.
Fadnavis complained about the “larger conspiracy” for violence in Maharashtra’s Bhima Koregaon in January and said it was aimed at pitting two communities, Marathas and Dalits, against each other. “It was aimed to start a civil war,” he said.
Singh and Kumaraswamy, the two nonBJP chief ministers among the three, maintained they had no problems working with the Centre. Singh complained he was unable to make key appointments like that of the state police chief. Fadnavis, who heads the government in Maharashtra, sympathized with him. “I feel we should have full freedom to appoint these people,” Fadnavis said. The non-BJP chief ministers complained about constraints states face in imposing taxes, and lack of funds.
Fadnavis referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly Pragati meetings with officials from the states and said they had accelerated the decision-making process and clearance for projects. Kumaraswamy dismissed speculation about tensions between his party and the Congress.