The Mumbai Regional Congress Committee has organised a protest march on May 24 in the suburbs to address this.
Opposition parties in Maharashtra have slammed the government for the spiraling rise in petrol and diesel price. They have squarely blamed the Centre for delaying cut in excise duty, while criticising the state government for being a silent observer on this front.
The Mumbai Regional Congress Committee has organised a protest march on May 24 in the suburbs to address this.
Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Ashok Chavan alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre froze petrol and diesel prices till the Karnataka Assembly elections were over. This was against its own decision to revise petrol and diesel price on a daily basis. ''The decision to freeze the prices was aimed at bagging votes in Karnataka. However, there was a rise in prices after the results were out. It has exposed the government's mindset,'' he said.
Chavan demanded that the government should not waste any more time and bring petrol and diesel under the GST regime.
Former finance minister and state NCP unit president Jayant Patil demanded that the state should immediately reduce sales tax/VAT, while the Centre should decrease excise duty on petrol and diesel. ''Ironically, both the governments are busy making money amid rising crude prices. Soaring petrol and diesel prices will have a cascading effect on the economy, leading to a surge in inflation, which will ultimately hit the common man badly,'' he said.
Maharashtra State Planning Board's former deputy chairman Ratnakar Mahajan said the Centre should ask states to lower VAT/sales tax and surcharge instead of blaming the frequent rise in petrol and diesel prices. On its part, the Centre should cut down its own taxes including custom duty, excise duty, and other surcharge. Oil companies cannot prosper at the cost of common men,'' he added.
NCP spokesman Nawab Malik wanted to know why the Centre was dilly dallying their plan to include petrol and diesel in GST, especially when the BJP-led governments has larger representation in the GST Council.
QUESTIONS RAISED
Former finance minister and state NCP unit president Jayant Patil demanded the state should immediately reduce sales tax/VAT, while the Centre should decrease excise duty on petrol and diesel. NCP spokesman Nawab Malik wanted to know why the Centre was stalling its plan to include petrol and diesel in GST.
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