BJP Protests VAT Hike on Fuel in Delhi, Raises it Next Door in Haryana

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, July 16, 2015:  As the Delhi BJP protested today against the Arvind Kejriwal government’s decision to increase Value Added Tax or VAT on petrol and diesel, its governments in neighbouring states effected VAT hikes too.

The hike in VAT in the capital has sent petrol and diesel prices up at a time when prices were slashed in the rest of the country.

Oil companies said last evening that they were passing on the benefit of a decrease in oil prices internationally and an appreciation of the Rupee-dollar exchange rate to the consumer. But in Delhi, on the same day, the Aam Aadmi Party government announced its first hike in VAT on petrol from from 20 per cent to 25 per cent and diesel from 12.5 per cent to 16.6 per cent.

The price of petrol thus went up by Rs. 2.78 per litre and that of diesel by Rs. 1.83 per litre in the capital.

Protesting in the capital, the BJP slammed the AAP government saying it was not allowing benefits given to consumers by the Centre to reach the people of Delhi. It also reminded the AAP government that it had promised cheaper petrol and diesel in the capital.

This morning, however, the governments of Haryana and Punjab too hiked VAT on diesel. While the BJP is in power in Haryana, it participates in the Punjab government along with ally Akali Dal.

The AAP government in Delhi said in a statement last night that the VAT hike was based on a decision taken at a meeting of Finance Ministers of northern states on May 21, 2015 for bringing uniformity in tax rates.

The retail price of diesel in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi will now be almost be the same, a senior Delhi official said.

The Congress too has protested against the VAT hike in the capital.

 

Courtesy: NDTV