KalingaTV News Network
Bhubaneswar: As the ruling BJD and opposition Congress in the state announced to intensify state-wide protest against unprecedented rising of fuel prices by the BJP-led Government at the Centre, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan once again appealed the Odisha Government to reduce VAT on petrol and diesel.
Addressing a press meet at Odisha BJP Headquarters here Pradhan said, “The political difference between two oil producing countries Iran and Venezuela has been a major cause behind the rise in the price of fuel in the international market.”
“Reduction in central excise and VAT is the only way for the Centre and the States to bring down the fuel price,” he argued.
However, Odisha Finance Minister Shashi Bhusan Behera criticised Pradhan’s clam and accused him of evading responsibility.
“In Odisha, only 26% VAT on fuel is being collected which is among lowest in the country. The Petroleum Minister is making such statements only to shrug off his responsibility”, Behera said.
The price of the petrol and diesel is already at an all-time high in Mumbai along with Bhubaneswar, Delhi and other cities across the nation, and is now creating new benchmarks daily.
Ms Kalinga