Fuel prices
Undoubtedly, VAT imposed on diesel and petrol is one of the reasons behind swelling fuel prices but no border line can be drawn between BJP-ruled States and non-BJP ruled States in this regard. On the other hand, the excise duties levied by the Union government on fuels have increased manifold since 2014. To be precise, while the excise duty imposed on a litre of diesel in 2014 was ₹3.50, currently it is ₹22. Similarly, the excise duty imposed on a litre of petrol in 2014 was ₹2.50; it is now ₹28. Hence, the Prime Minister’s advocacy that only VAT enhances fuel prices is misleading and politically motivated.
Satyanarayan Padhee,
