FM shifts blame on states for high fuel prices

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman batted for a cut in the petrol prices, putting the blame on the states for the high petrol prices because of the taxes they levy.

“Yes, the Centre can also help by cutting down the Central Excise Duty,” she said but added the Centre has no control over the prices of petrol and diesel fixed by the oil marketing companies. She described the continuous hike in the petrol and diesel prices as a "dharma sankat," saying the Centre and states need to figure out a way so that the end price to the consumer or the retail price of fuel is at a reasonable level.