The Delhi government has refused to reduce value added tax (VAT) on the fuel price in the state, despite the Centre announcing a cut of Rs 2.50 per litre on both petrol and diesel prices.
The Delhi government has refused to reduce value added tax (VAT) on the fuel price in the state, despite the Centre announcing a cut of Rs 2.50 per litre on both petrol and diesel prices. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that state government is already running in loss and, therefore, cannot reduce the taxes.
"The state believed in the Centre over the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) implementation, with a hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would take care of states' interests. But, now when the Centre says it has hiked prices of petrol and diesel by Rs 10, but the profit is going to the Centre. However, if it reduces the rates by Rs 1.5, states are expected to cut down the price by Rs 2.5," he said.
On September 4, the Centre had slashed the price of petrol and diesel by Rs 2.50 per litre each and directed the state governments to implement the same.
Soon after the announcement, many states including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Maharashtra announced an additional concession on the fuel prices.
Union minister Vijay Goel rode a cycle in Delhi's Paharganj area on Tuesday to protest against the Arvind Kejriwal-led government for not reducing the value added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel prices.
Goel claimed that the Delhi government was not paying heed to people suffering due to rising fuel prices.
"It's not a symbolic agitation, it will go on till the Arvind Kejriwal government slashes VAT on petrol and diesel," he said.
The Modi government being sensitive to problems of people due to rising prices of petrol and diesel, reduced Rs 2.5 on it and now it is Kejriwal's turn to do the same and reduce the prices by at least Rs 5, the minister said.
The Kejriwal government realises Rs 29 as VAT on petrol and diesel, he claimed.
The power and water bills of people are also going up in Delhi and it is also part of the agitation, he said Goel last Sunday rode a bullock cart in a similar protest against the Kejriwal government in Chandni Chowk area.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Fuel fury: Delhi goverment refuses to reduce VAT on petrol prices")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}