Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 16: JKNPP has alleged that despite a precipitous fall in the global prices of crude oil, the BJP Govt at the Centre had failed to effect any corresponding reduction in the prices of petrol and diesel thereby continuing with its policy of increased taxation on essential commodities as a measure of resource mobilization.
“The decline in the global prices is being neutralized by increasing taxes and cess on petrol and diesel thereby creating nationwide resentment against the Centre Govt. The latest increase in Excise Duty by Rs 3 per litre effected yesterday on petrol and diesel is unacceptable and amply demonstrates the disregard of the BJP Govt towards the concerns of the middle classes and other economically marginalized sections of society. The increase in taxation, at a time when the people were facing worst economic distress due to Coronavirus pandemic, only revealed the insensitivity of the BJP Govt,” NPP leader Harsh Dev Singh said while addressing a press conference in Jammu today.
Strongly condemning the ruling dispensation for huge taxation on petrol and diesel, Singh said that while crude oil cost in the global market was Rs 17.79 per litre, the consumers are being charged over Rs 70 litre for petrol and over Rs 63 per litre for diesel. And all this notwithstanding the fact that the rate of crude oil has drastically fallen from Rs 30.08 per litre to Rs 17.79 per litre after March 12. He said that such enhanced prices of fuel in India was the cumulative effect of huge taxation in the form of excise duty, road cess and VAT imposed by the BJP led Govt at the Centre together with huge margins of oil companies. He said that the total taxation on petrol was Rs 37.89 in Modi rule as against Rs 9.48 per litre prior to 2014.
Accusing the BJP Govt of filling its own coffers at the cost of the common man and denying the benefits of declining prices which had naturally accrued to the economically weaker sections, NPP leader said that it had betrayed the sentiments of the marginalized sections across the nation.
Not only was petrol and diesel being provided at exorbitant rates by the present regime, the prices of other essential commodities like cooking gas and eatables had also sky rocketed during the BJP Govt, Singh added.
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