Petrol Prices to Dip in Maharashtra? MoS Deepak Kesarkar Says CM Devendra Fadnavis Considering VAT Cut on Fuel
Petrol in Mumbai, the state capital, valued at Rs 88.12 today, whereas, diesel is being sold at Rs 77.32 per litre.
Mumbai, Sept 10: In wake of the sky-rocketing fuel prices, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is contemplating over a relief measure for the consumers. According to Minister of State for Finance Deepak Kesarkar, the CM is considering a cut in Value Added Tax or VAT levied on fuel.
While speaking to CNN News 18, Kesarkar said the government is "concerned" over the inconvenience caused to the people due to unprecedented rise in petrol and diesel prices. The Chief Minister is considering a reduction in VAT which could ease the burden to an extent, he said.
Notably, petrol in Mumbai, the state capital, valued at Rs 88.12 today, whereas, diesel is being sold at Rs 77.32 per litre.
Kesarkar's claim comes a day after the Rajasthan government slashed VAT by 4 per cent, bringing the price of petrol in the state down by Rs 2.5 per litre.
Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government led Chandrababu Naidu reduced the petrol and diesel prices by Rs 2 each. The new rates will come into effect from tomorrow.
A Bharat Bandh was observed today between 9am to 3pm to protest against the rise in fuel prices, which the Opposition has attributed to the central duties levied by the NDA government. 21 political parties had supported the shutdown call issued by the Congress.
The bandh evoked a mixed response, with metropolitan cities being largely unaffected. In Delhi, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi led an Opposition march from Rajghat to Ramlila Maidan. Targeting the Modi government, the Gandhi scion said, "BJP should be uprooted in 2019 in the interest of farmers, students, workers and the common man".
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 10, 2018 03:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).