The Center needs funds to fight Corona, petrol-diesel prices will not go down

(PTI) New Delhi, Dt

Petrol and diesel prices in the country are at record highs. At present, the price of petrol in seven states of the country is Rs. 100 in Sriganganagar, Rajasthan. Has exceeded 100. However, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said that there is no prospect of a reduction in petrol and diesel prices in the country at present. The government needs funds to fight the Corona, poor welfare schemes, social work and development works. This need of the government is being met from taxes on petrol and diesel.

Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the rising prices of petrol and diesel in the country are worrisome. But the central and state governments need more money for social and development works. While the Congress is currently besieging the Center over record petrol and diesel prices, Prime Minister Dharmendra has targeted Rahul Gandhi and asked why petrol and diesel are so expensive in Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Punjab. If Rahul Gandhi is concerned about the burden of vehicle fuel prices on the poor, he should ask the chief ministers to cut fuel taxes in the Congress-ruled states. However, he remained silent on the question of whether BJP-ruled states like Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka would also reduce taxes. Even in these states, the price of petrol is Rs. 100 has been exceeded.

After the elections in five states in the country, including West Bengal, in the six weeks from May 4 to May 6, a total of Rs. 3.5 per liter and Rs. The price has gone up by Rs 3.5. Fuel prices have reached record highs due to rising international crude prices and higher central and state taxes. Indraprastha Gas Ltd. at Maharaja Agrasen Hospital. Inaugurating the oxygen plant set up by the government, Dharmendra Pradhan said the central and state governments need more funds to fight corona as well as development works. This requirement is being met from tax revenue on petrol and diesel.

He added that the central government is currently allocating Rs 1 crore to provide free meals to the poor affected by the second wave of Corona. 1 lakh crore. In addition, there is a high cost of vaccination campaigns and healthcare infrastructure to fight corona. Besides, the government is also carrying out development works.

At present, the international price of crude oil has crossed ૭૨ 6 per barrel. In addition, due to state VAT and freight charges on petrol and diesel, fuel prices vary across the country. Last year, when international crude oil prices hit a two-decade low, the central government increased excise duty on petrol and diesel instead of giving people the benefit of a reduction in crude oil prices. When the Modi government was formed in 2014, Rs. 3.5 and Rs. 3.2 was excise duty. At present, excise duty on petrol is Rs. 2.50 per liter, which is 3 per cent of the retail price, and the excise duty on diesel is Rs. 31.50, which is 2.7 per cent of the retail price.