BJP says Opp indulging in ‘misleading campaign’ on fuel prices, backs excise duty cut
NEW DELHI, March 27: The Congress on Friday alleged that the government’s excise cuts on petrol and diesel were because of assembly elections and pointed out that consumer prices in India were not reduced even when global crude oil prices fell on seven different occasions in the past 12 years.
The opposition party’s attack came after the government slashed excise duty on petrol to Rs 3 per litre and exempted diesel fully from the duty.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, “When global crude oil prices fell as they did on seven different occasions in the past 12 years consumer prices in India were not reduced.” “Today’s announcement was because of assembly elections. Wait till April 30th,” he said.
Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry will be held on a single day on April 9, in Tamil Nadu on April 23, and in two phases in West Bengal on April 23 and 29, while votes will be counted for all polls on May 4.
The Congress’s media and publicity department head, Pawan Khera, said, “If you saw the headlines about petrol and diesel prices ‘coming down’ and thought the government had offered relief to your pocket, you’d be mistaken.” As of now, prices remain the same for dealers and for consumers, he claimed.
“What has actually been reduced is the ‘special additional excise duty’, a levy paid by Oil Marketing Companies to the government. The words ‘special’ and ‘additional’ reveal how unnecessary this tax is,” Khera said on X.
He pointed out that these companies had been absorbing losses since the outbreak of the conflict in West Asia.“The government has now merely agreed to share a small part of that burden but reducing the ‘special additional’ levy – that too almost a month later,” the Congress leader said.
“Relief exists but only in the narrative — not in reality. Instead of manufacturing headlines and fooling people, the government should focus on delivering actual relief to consumers,” he said.
In another post, Khera pointed out the rise in fuel prices, irrespective of crude prices over the years.
“Modi’s Masterstroke: Cheaper crude. Costlier fuel. In May 2014, crude oil was at $106.94 per barrel. Petrol cost Rs 71.71 per litre, and diesel Rs 56.71. Fast forward to just before the West Asia conflict – crude oil had fallen to around USD 70 per barrel. But petrol was selling at Rs 94.72 per litre, and diesel at Rs 87.62 in Delhi,” he said.
India also bought crude oil from Russia at a discounted rate, but the benefit did not translate into relief for consumers, he said.“It only made the Ambanis richer,” Khera said.
He added, “Because between 2014 and 2026, the government revised the excise duty a total of 21 times, increasing it 12 times. So much for Achche Din!” The Congress leader also lashed out at Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri for saying that the government decided to “take a hit” on its own finances to safeguard Indian citizens.“Oh, how magnanimous! The tone is patronising and condescending – packaging as charity and favour what is, in fact, the basic responsibility of any government. Mr Puri, the government and the money both are of the people of India. They do not belong to #Epstein,” Khera said.“This language also reeks of entitlement â?” it sounds more like a ruler doling out favours from his own coffers, rather than a government spending the ‘people’s money’ for the ‘people’,” he said.
“Clearly sharing friends with monarchs like Prince Andrew has deteriorated his sense of democratic responsibility and accountability. Every time he speaks, he undermines his own suitability for the office he holds,” Khera said
BJP HITS BACK
The BJP on Friday launched a sharp attack on the opposition over its “misleading campaign” on fuel prices while welcoming the Centre’s decision to cut excise duty on petrol and diesel, saying the move will provide major relief to the common people.The government has slashed excise duty on petrol to Rs 3 per litre and exempted diesel fully from duty.BJP MP Anurag Thakur targeted the Congress, alleging that while the Narendra Modi government has reduced the burden on citizens, the Congress-ruled states have taken steps to increase it.
“First of all, we express our gratitude to the prime minister for the historic decision to reduce excise duty on petrol and diesel. At a time when fuel prices have risen sharply across the world, India is perhaps the only country that has reduced excise duty and directly benefited 140 crore citizens,” Thakur told reporters in the Parliament House complex.He claimed that the Congress has a history of increasing taxes on fuel in states ruled by it.“The Congress has repeatedly increased VAT in the states ruled by it, burdening the common people. In Himachal Pradesh, the Congress government has decided to impose a Rs 5 cess on petrol and diesel and is preparing to implement it,” he said.Drawing a comparison, Thakur said the BJP-led Centre reduced excise duty by Rs 10 per litre on petrol and diesel, while Congress governments in states were moving in the opposite direction.“This is the difference between the BJP and the Congress. While the Modi government takes decisions in the interest of the people, Congress-ruled states like Himachal are increasing the burden on citizens,” said Thakur.The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Monday passed the VAT Amendment Bill to levy an orphan and widow cess of up to Rs 5 per litre on petrol and diesel, amid a walkout by the opposition BJP. (PTI)
