Center-states should work together to make petrol-diesel cheaper: Nirmala

Raipur: After petrol and diesel prices hit new highs on Tuesday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaram has said that petrol and diesel prices are determined on the basis of crude oil prices in the international market. The Center and the states should work together on rising petrol and diesel prices.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP office in Chhattisgarh in Raipur, the finance minister said that the prices of petroleum products in India depend on the price of crude oil in the global market.

Therefore, the Center and the states should work together to address the rising prices of petrol and diesel as both the Center and the states levy taxes on petrol and diesel.

India has to import 99 per cent of its petrol and diesel requirements. The finance minister further said that the central government levies a fixed amount of tax on petrol and diesel. While states levy value based tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel.

Nirmala Sitaram admitted that the rise in petrol and diesel prices has added to the hardships of the common man. The Central and State Governments should work together to remove this economic burden on the common man.