In favour of putting fuel under GST ambit: CM Devendra Fadnavis

Stating that Maharashtra is in favour of bringing petrol and diesel under the under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) ambit, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that if it was to happen, it would result in bringing down fuel prices.

He was replying to a question during his interaction with the media at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit office after the induction of former NCP leader Niranjan Davkhare into the party. Fadnavis also said that the petrol and diesel prices were dependent on international prices and due to rising prices, the Union government has constituted a task force to tackle this issue.

Fadnavis said that if petrol and diesel are brought under GST, the prices can be brought down. He said that this subject of bringing fuel under GST was being discussed in the GST council, which comprises of finance ministers of various states.

The Chief Minister made it clear that Maharashtra has already given its approval for bringing fuel in the ambit of GST, but since all the states have not yet given their nod, the decision is pending.

Fadnavis admitted that the state, as well as the Center, will be hit in terms of revenue after fuel is brought under GST. Since fuel has a tax structure where the tax is charged on another tax, bringing fuel under the ambit of GST would mean bring down the fuel prices as well.