Fix rates of fuel instead of reducing taxes: Cong

Ludhiana: Central government may have reduced the excise duty on the rates of petrol and diesel, but Congress is alleging that it was just a publicity stunt and like last time, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government will again increase the rates slowly over a period of few months. Mehta has also urged Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led state government to reduce taxes on both the fuels to give some more relief to the people.
Mehta said, “Everyone is fed up with the central government’s inefficiency to counter inflation. What is even worse, is the publicity stunts the BJP-led government pulls. Some months ago also the Centre reduced the excise duty., but even then the rates of both fuels climbed up to such levels that the benefit of reduction of duty was reduced to zero. When it was our government in the state, led by chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, he took a bold step and reduced state taxes on petrol and diesel to give real time relief to the people of state, but the Centre did not allow this benefit to reach people by not controlling the rates of petrol and diesel.”
Mehta also added, “If the Centre really wants to give any benefit of reduction or control inflation, then it should fix the rates of petrol, diesel and LPG rather than reducing taxes and then letting prices rise.” tnn