NEWS DELHI: At a time when the petrol price in many states in India breaches Rs. 100 marks, some neighbouring countries are selling the fuel at comparatively low prices.
For instance, the petrol price in Sri Lanka is Rs. 68.64. Likewise, Pakistan is selling per litre petrol for Rs. 52.12. India's tiny neighbour Nepal is also selling per litre petrol for Rs.78.92. Besides, the petrol price in Venezuela is just Rs. 1.48.
A section of people alleges that skyrocketing prices of petrol and diesel make some other commodities more expensive causing misery to the low-income group of people.
Meanhwhile with the petrol price in Guwahati breaching the Rs. 100 benchmark, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday hoped that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would discuss the issue with the foreign countries which export oil to India.
The Chief Minister felt that the rising fuel prices also make life miserable for the people of the state. The oil prices have gone up 70 per cent in the last six months. The price of petrol has crossed the 100-mark while that of diesel crossed the 92 mark in Guwahati on Monday.
"I hope the Prime Minister would take up the issue with the countries from where oil has been imported to India to give a relief to the people," Sarma told reporters here. Sarma claimed that the State government has reduced the prices of petrol and diesel in the State by Rs 5 per litre under VAT from last year.
"Assam is having the least costly petrol prices in the country. Even the price of diesel is also the lowest," he claimed. "The oil price has been calculated based on the international market. There are several factors behind the rise of oil prices. The oil price in the international market, demand of oil, cost of crude oil, taxes imposed by the State governments, excise duty and dealers commission — these are the factors due to which oil price is going up," said the Chief Minister.
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