Bring petrol-diesel under GST, demands Congress

Mumbai : With prices of petrol and diesel, per litre, crossing Rs 81 and Rs 68 respectively here, the Congress's Mumbai unit on Monday reiterated its demand to bring these fuels under the ambit of GST.

Accusing the Central government of being "unconcerned' about the plight of the common masses, Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam pointed out that the petrol-diesel prices have overshot the highest peak four years ago, with an average Rs 5 per litre hike in both since the price of January 1, 2018.

"As the people battle to survive these high fuel prices, the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state and centre have no back-up plan to address the issue, it is clearly 'anti-people' and only concerned about the rich," he said in a statement.

Nirupam added that the tax component in the petrol-diesel prices is extremely high and either the taxes have to be slashed or the fuels have to be brought under the GST ambit immediately to bring down the prices, and provide relief to the masses.

"In 2015-2016 and 2016-2017, the growth in government revenues from petroleum produces was a whopping 25 percent, which is much higher than the 9-10 percent notched in the two previous financial years. The BJP government is milking the common masses by denying them the full benefits of the lower international crude oil prices that prevailed earlier.

"The worst is the spiralling impact the high prices of the two critical fuels on all other sectors of the economy, transportation, prices of foods and commodities, with the entire supply chain slated for an increase in rates and the spectre of steep hike in food prices soon looming before the people," he said.