NEW DELHI: With the price of petrol hitting a century in Rajasthan on February 17 in the Sriganganagar district, Prime Minister Narendra Modi blamed the previous governments for not focussing on reducing India's energy import dependence.
At an inauguration event in Tamil Nadu, the Prime Minister said that the middle class would not have been burdened if the previous governments had focussed on reducing India's energy import dependence.
Further, PM Modi stated that India imported over 85 per cent of its oil needs in the 2019-20 financial year and 53 per cent of its gas requirement.
Meanwhile from the State of Assam, finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced a reduction in fuel rates by Rs. 5 effective February 13 as the COVID cess on fuel was removed.
It is to be mentioned that the day after the petrol price in Rajasthan crossed Rs. 100, on February 18 the petrol price crossed the Rs 100 per litre mark in Madhya Pradesh after fuel rates were increased for the tenth day in a row.
Petrol price was hiked by 34 paise per litre and diesel by 32 paise, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.
In Anuppur of Madhya Pradesh, petrol is priced at Rs 100.25 per litre and diesel at Rs 90.35.
Madhya Pradesh levies 33 per cent plus Rs 4.5 a litre and 1 per cent cess on petrol. On diesel, it charges 23 per cent plus Rs 3 per litre and 1 per cent cess.
Notably, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan blamed output cut by oil-producing nations for the rally in international oil prices that have translated into higher retail rates in India.
PM Modi also asserted that ethanol extracted from sugarcane will help cut imports as well as give farmers an alternate source of income.
"India is looking to cut energy import dependence as well as diversify its sources to reduce risks," PM Modi said.