State Govts Responsible For Hike In Fuel Prices: Puri

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has blamed the states for the rising prices of petrol and diesel in the country. He said that the state governments are collecting VAT on petrol and diesel fiercely. Along with this, he has also advised the state governments to reduce VAT. He said that it is not in the hands of the Center to decide the oil prices. Their prices are set by petroleum marketing companies.

Puri said that the country has still not fully recovered from the covid crisis. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured that there is no shortage of oil and gas in the country in times of crisis. In response to the question of rising oil prices, he said that the country consumes 5 million barrels of oil every day. The central and state governments should take strict steps regarding oil prices.

The minister further said that the central government has no control over oil prices. When he was asked why oil prices do not increase during elections, he said that oil companies are connected to the public and they take decisions according to the need in the interest of the public. He said that the Central Government has cut the excise duty on oil in view of the problems being faced by the public.

He said that during the pandemic, government needed money to provide the vaccine to 80 crore people of the country. Attacking the non-BJP ruled states, Puri said that the state governments are charging VAT on oil heavily. He said that the state governments have no right to accuse the Center of increasing the price of oil, when they themselves are collecting heavy tax on oil.

(Input From Agencies)