HP minister rules out any relief in petrol, diesel prices

Himachal Pradesh Excise and Taxation Minister Prakash Chaudhary on Friday made an interesting revelation in the assembly claiming that Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Haryana Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu pressured him to propose a hike in the VAT on petrol and diesel prices.

The minister claimed that a decision to increase VAT on petrol by 2 percent per litre and diesel by 2.10 percent per litre was taken at the cabinet level later, which was still lower than two states. He also blamed the Centre for increasing excise duty on diesel and petrol, resulting in a rise in the prices of two items despite cuts in the prices of both the commodities due to international market.

Not happy with the government ‘s explanation, the opposition BJP staged a walk out of the House.

The issue was raised by in the assembly by BJP MLA Virender Kanwar, who was well supported by former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. Kanwar tried to corner Chaudhary and the Congress government on an undue hike in the VAT, which has imposed a heavy burden on the consumers.

The minister, who looked prepared to face the opposition flak, instead, blamed the Centre for denying relief to the consumers.

“Had the centre not ordered a four-fold hike in the excise duty, ie 7. 75 percent and 6.50 percent on petrol and diesel respectively, the consumers would not have faced the burden. Himachal will have been selling petrol and diesel, at least by Rs 7 per litre, lower than current prices,” the minister said.

As the BJP staged a walk out on the issue, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh ridiculed the opposition stance and claimed that the issue has completely boomeranged on the opposition which had come with a strategy to corner the government.

Source:: Indian Express