With petrol and diesel costs rising, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday agreed that charges have been an issue, however mentioned that because the authorities spending is rising because of the Covid aid measures, “the Center will continue to spend on welfare schemes”. Saving cash”.
“I settle for that gas costs are troubling customers, little question about it. But over Rs 35,000 crore has been spent on Covid vaccines in a yr. To present eight months of ration to the poor. Rs 1 lakh crore has been spent on Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana. Talking to the media, Pradhan mentioned, “Under PM Kisan a few thousand crore rupees have also been transferred to the bank accounts of farmers. In such difficult times, we are working on welfare schemes.” Saving cash to spend on.
#watch | I settle for that the present gas costs are problematic for the folks, however be it the central/state authorities, greater than Rs 35,000 crore has been spent on vaccines in a yr… In such tough occasions, we’ve to spend on welfare schemes. Saving cash for: Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan pic.twitter.com/ugObtQYiB6
— ANI (@ANI) 13 June 2021
With the Center dealing with fixed criticism from the opposition over gas costs, Pradhan requested Congress governments in Rajasthan and Maharashtra to chop gross sales tax if the occasion is “concerned about the burden on the common man”. Asked about Congress chief Rahul Gandhi’s repeated assaults on the Modi authorities, Pradhan mentioned, “Rahul Gandhi ought to reply why gas costs are excessive in Congress-ruled states like Punjab, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. If he’s anxious concerning the poor as a lot, then he ought to instruct the CM of Maharashtra to scale back the tax, as a result of the gas costs in Mumbai are very excessive.
Pradhan, nonetheless, kept away from commenting on whether or not BJP-ruled states like Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, the place petrol has crossed the Rs 100 mark, would achieve this.
Fuel costs differ from state to state primarily based on native taxes similar to VAT and freight fees levied on them. Due to this, the value of petrol in seven states and union territories- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Ladakh is at present above Rs 100 per liter. Of these states, the Congress is in energy in Rajasthan and is an alliance accomplice with Shiv Sena and NCP in Maharashtra. Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka are dominated by BJP. Ladakh can also be beneath central rule. YSR Congress is in energy in Andhra Pradesh whereas Telangana is dominated by TRS.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
