Karnataka govt should reduce VAT on fuel prices: Veerappa Moily

Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily today defended the hike in fuel prices, saying the hike was "inevitable" due to increase in international price of crude oil.

Speaking on the sidelines of a function here, Moily said the BJP government in Karnataka should provide some relief to the common man by sharing the burden and reducing VAT and sale tax on fuel.

The Union government on Friday hiked the price of diesel by Rs 3 a litre, kerosene Rs 2 a litre and cooking gas by a steep Rs 50 a cylinder.

Moily said the Karnataka government should emulate West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in giving relief to the common man. Banerjee yesterday withdrew the West Bengal government's cess on LPG, saying it would not collect a cess of Rs 16 per LPG cylinder in light of the price hike.