STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Ripun Bora on Monday demanded that the benefit of reduced international crude oil prices should be passed on to the people and the rates of petrol, diesel and LPG be reduced to August 2004 level.
The APCC demanded that petrol and diesel should be brought under the GST (Goods and Services Tax).
"The 12 hikes in excise duty by the Modi Government since May 2014 on petroleum products should be withdrawn immediately until it is brought under the GST regime," stated Bora while addressing a press conference.
"The Modi Government must reduce the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG to August 2004 level. It is important to remind that the current crude oil prices are similar to August 2004 level and yet consumers are paying a heavier bill. In August 2004, petrol was Rs 36.81 per litre, diesel Rs 24.16 and LPG Rs 261.60 per cylinder in Delhi but currently petrol is being sold at Rs 75.78 per litre, diesel at Rs 74.03 per litre and LPG at Rs 593 per cylinder," he said.
Further, he said, "Today 130 crore Indians are battling the corona pandemic. The poor, migrant workers, shopkeepers, farmers, small and medium businesses and those who have lost their jobs are struggling to survive the economic ruin unleashed by the Modi Government. But instead of refuing their burden the draconian and anti-people Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) Government is fleecing the people by not just raising fuel rates on daily basis but also refusing to share benefits of crude oil prices with people.
Bora pointed out that petrol and diesel prices have been hiked by Rs 4.52 per litre and Rs 4.64 per litre respectively during the last 8 days itself despite crude oil prices are declining.
"Between the financial year 2014-15 to fiscal year 2019-20, the Modi Government has hiked taxes on petrol and diesel 12 times and has collected a whopping Rs 17,80,056 crore in just last 6 years. When the people are reeling under difficult conditions, the government has no right to further burden them under high taxation. If the Modi Government, which made false promises of cheaper fuel bills rolls-back the increased excise duties during its tenure, both petrol and diesel prices will immediately come under Rs 50 per litre," he asserted.
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