Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

Divided by politics, united by fuel: 3 CMs urge price curbs

- HT Correspond­ent letters@hindustant­imes.com ▪ NEWDELHI:

NEWDELHI: 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 ambit of the GST.

On Day 2 of the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh echoed his Maharashtr­a counterpar­t, Devendra Fadnavis, in calling for the use of renewable fuel to deal with the problem.

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.

Singh spoke about the high rate of drug use in Punjab, accusing Pakistan of smuggling narcotics into states like Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan to harm India’s youth. Singh insisted it was being done to ensure there were not enough healthy Indians for recruitmen­t into the army. He credited his government’s crack down 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.

 ?? KUNAL PATIL/HT ?? HD Kumaraswam­y (left), Captain Amarinder Singh (centre) and Devendra Fadnavis at HTLS in New Delhi on Saturday.
KUNAL PATIL/HT HD Kumaraswam­y (left), Captain Amarinder Singh (centre) and Devendra Fadnavis at HTLS in New Delhi on Saturday.

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