Congress Demands CM KCR to Reduce VAT on Petrol, Diesel

Hyderabad, November 7: The Congress party on Sunday demanded that the Telangana Government reduce the Value Added Tax on petrol and diesel prices to ease the burden on the common man.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin strongly condemned Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao for not reducing the VAT despite many other States including Punjab announcing a cut in State’s VAT. He said Telangana was among the States with the highest VAT on petrol and diesel. As against the base prices of Rs. 47.98 per litre, the Central Govt is collecting an Excise Duty of Rs. 27.90 while the State Govt is charging a VAT of Rs. 28.17. Similarly, people are paying Central Excise Duty of Rs. 21.80 and State VAT of Rs. 20.12 per litre of diesel while its base price is Rs. 49.62. He said both the BJP Govt at the Centre and TRS Govt in Telangana were burdening the common people through ‘tax extortion’.

Nizamuddin said that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao was the first to react when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation. Similarly, KCR was at the forefront when BJP Govt introduced Goods & Services Tax (GST). Both the moves ruined the country’s economy and pushed common people into a huge economic crisis. But now KCR is not responding when the Central Govt announces a cut in Excise Duty on Petrol and Diesel by Rs. 5 and Rs. 10 per litre, he said.

Nizamuddin, who is also the President of Telangana State Cabs & Bus Operators Association (TSCBOA), said that the entire travel industry in the State was on the verge of total collapse due to rising fuel prices. Of nearly six lakh direct/indirect jobs, more than half of jobs are already lost due to the unplanned lockdown and lack of support from the government.

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