Rahul attacks PM over fuel price issue
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his federalism is “not cooperative but coercive”.
His remarks came a day after Modi flagged higher fuel prices in many opposition-ruled states and urged them to reduce VAT in “national interest” to benefit the common man and work in the spirit of cooperative federalism in this time of global crisis.
Gandhi alleged that the prime minister is abdicating his responsibility by blaming states for the high fuel prices even when the Centre has taken 68 percent of all fuel taxes.
“High Fuel prices – blame states. Coal shortage – blame states. Oxygen shortage – blame states,” he said in a tweet.
“68% of all fuel taxes are taken by the Centre. Yet, the PM abdicates responsibility. Modi’s Federalism is not cooperative. It’s coercive,” Gandhi charged.
Modi had raised the issue of many states not adhering to the Centre’s call for reducing the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel after his government slashed excise duties on them in November last, and called it “injustice” to people living there and also harmful for neighbouring states.
Flagging higher fuel prices in many opposition-ruled states during a meeting on Covid, PM Modi called it “injustice” and urged the Chief Ministers to reduce VAT (Value Added Tax) on petrol and diesel to help the common man. He said many states had not agreed to the Centre’s call for reducing VAT after his government slashed excise duties in November and named Maharashtra, West Bengal, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu.
Reacting to the furious backlash from opposition Chief Ministers, Union Minister Hardeep Puri sneered that petrol would be cheaper if opposition states reduced taxes on fuel instead of liquor.
“Petrol will be cheaper if opposition ruled states cut taxes on fuel instead of imported liquor! Maharashtra govt imposes ₹ 32.15/litre on petrol and Congress-ruled Rajasthan ₹ 29.10. But BJP-ruled Uttarakhand levies only ₹ 14.51 and Uttar Pradesh ₹ 16.50. Protests cannot challenge facts!” – Mr Puri tweeted this morning.
The swipe landed as Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao remarked that the Prime Minister “should feel ashamed” to ask states to cut taxes and stressed that there had been no hike in fuel tax since 2015 in his state
