Direct Capt govt to reduce taxes on fuel: Sukhbir to Rahul Gandhi

CHANDIGARH : Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday asked Congress president Rahul Gandhi to direct Punjab government to reduce state taxes on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre.

“Rahul should practice what he preaches and direct the Punjab government to reduce state taxes to give relief to the common man. Political ‘tamashas’ would not help the people and chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh should follow the example of Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan and reduce VAT and surcharge on petrol and diesel as petroleum prices in Punjab are the highest in North India and the third highest in the country,” Sukhbir said.

“It was condemnable that while Rahul was demanding that petrol and diesel prices be brought under the GST regime, the Congress government in Punjab is flatly refusing to cut down state taxes,” Sukhbir said.

Hitting out at the Congress for “double speak” on the sensitive issue, he said the Punjab government was collecting a tax of ₹23 and ₹11 per litre on petrol and diesel, respectively.

This along with 42% central devolution of excise was resulting in an annual tax collection of ₹5,800 crore from petroleum products, he said. Since development is at a stop, the state has nothing to show for utilisation , Sukhbir added.

“The government can give relief to the common man as well as the farming community by reducing its share in petrol and diesel prices by ₹10 per litre,” he said.