Why petrol costliest in Punjab,Capt Amarinder asks govt

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh claimed that petrol was costliest in Punjab when compared to other states across the country.

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday claimed that petrol was costliest in Punjab when compared to other states across the country.

Demanding that the government reduce the value added tax (VAT) on petrol in the state to bring make the prices at least at par with neighbouring states,Amarinder in a statement claimed that the Akali-BJP government has imposed 32.75 per cent taxes on petrol the highest in the country,making it the costliest in India.

He added that while Haryana has imposed 20.5 per cent taxes,the figure is 24 per cent and in Himachal Pradesh and 22 per cent in Chandigarh. Providing details,Amarinder said: Punjab charges 27.5 per cent VAT,10 per cent per cent as surcharge on VAT,Re 1 per litre as infrastructure development cess and 1.5 per cent as octroi.

Claiming that instead of blaming the Centre for increase in the prices,the state government should reduce taxes and provide relief to the people,he said: They can at least make it at par with other states. Petroleum prices are determined by trends in the international market. But state governments,if they want,can certainly provide relief to the people by lowering local taxes. During his tenure,he had ensured that no extra taxes were imposed on petrol,he added.

Amarinder further said that the state government was claiming to have improved VAT collections without informing the people that it had actually imposed unjust and arbitrary tax on petrol. The government is robbing the common man to show improved collections, he alleged.

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