Bengaluru:
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday defended the hike in petrol and diesel prices, saying it would ensure funding for essential public services and development projects. The state’s opposition parties, BJP and Janata Dal (Secular), criticized the Congress government for increasing petrol and diesel prices by Rs 3 and Rs 3.5 per liter respectively. After this, the Chief Minister said that even after the price hike, the tax on fuel is lower than most of the southern states.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in a statement, “Karnataka government has increased VAT (value added tax) on petrol to 29.84 per cent and on diesel to 18.44 per cent. Despite this increase, taxes on fuel in our state are similar to most South Indian states and Maharashtra with similar economies. are less as compared to states.
According to him, the VAT on petrol is 25 per cent plus an additional tax of Rs 5.12, while the VAT on diesel in Maharashtra is 21 per cent. He said that Karnataka’s revised rates are still more affordable than other states.
Siddaramaiah said, ‘Karnataka’s VAT adjustment ensures that we can finance essential public services and development projects. The state is committed to balanced and accountable governance.
The Chief Minister said that despite the increase in VAT, diesel prices in Karnataka are still lower than in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. He also took a dig at the opposition BJP which has decided to stage a statewide protest on Monday.
The Chief Minister alleged that the then double engine BJP government colluded to divert Karnataka’s resources to other states. The BJP government in the state continued to reduce VAT on petrol and diesel, while the central government increased its taxes.
Siddaramaiah said that before the BJP came to power in 2014, the central excise duty on petrol was Rs 9.48 per liter and on diesel Rs 3.56. However, during the tenure of the BJP government, the central excise duty on petrol and diesel increased to Rs. 32.98 and Rs. A record high of 31.83 was reached.
He said after this, the excise duty on petrol and diesel was reduced to Rs 13 and Rs 16 per liter between November 2021 and May 2022 respectively.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, ‘Despite the reduction, the current central excise duty on petrol is Rs 19.9 and on diesel is Rs 15.8. We request the central government to reduce this tax in public interest.
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