REDUCE CENTRAL EXCISE TO CUT FUEL PRICES: SUKHBIR TO PM

CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reduce central excise on petrol and diesel so that the common man, farmers and those in transport sector do not suffer.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the SAD president said that the steep hike in petrol and diesel prices was resulting in hardship for farmers who were sowing ‘kharif’ crop and the increased price of transportation had led to increase in prices of essential commodities. He said that the common man had also been adversely affected by the unprecedented hike. “Reduction in fuel prices would also help the industry get up on its feet by reducing the input costs,” said Sukhbir.

ALSO WRITES TO PUNJAB CM

The SAD president also wrote a separate letter to chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, requesting him to reduce the state taxes on petrol and diesel. He said that in Punjab, the state tax on petrol had gone up to 27.27% while for diesel it was up at 17.53%.

He said the high quotient of state taxes on fuel had affected farmers the most. “Movement of migrant labour out of Punjab had led to doubling of transplantation rates of paddy. Amid the paddy sowing season and various farm operations, farmers have been hit by an unreasonable hike in state taxes on diesel,” he said.