Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (EP)

Bengaluru, Jun 13: "The government at the centre is saying that petrol price should be brought under GST if it has to become cheaper. Congress also says the same. If then, is Congress fighting to reduce petrol prices or to bring it under GST?," asked former chief minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy.

In a series of posts on Twitter on Sunday June 13, Kumaraswamy said, "Petrol price is rising day by day in the middle of the corona pandemic. People are facing problems because of the price rise. Opposition parties including the Congress are requesting the government to reduce the petrol prices. They are also suggesting that the fuel prices can be reduced if they are brought under GST."

The former chief minister Kumaraswamy argued that the state's income will reduce if petrol prices are brought under GST.

Pointing at Veerappa Moily, Kumaraswamy said that a former minister of petroleum and Congress leader has urged that petrol should be brought under the ambit of GST. "It shows that the intention of Congress is not to reduce the unlimited taxes on the fuel but only to bring it under the GST. Congress does not know the risks involved in this move," he said.

"The only agenda of the national parties is doing politics with an eye on power. They do not consider the welfare of the state and local needs. It has become public that both Congress and BJP have stood for exploitation,” he said.

"People may feel that the price of petrol would be reduced when it is brought under the GST. But the state will lose revenue. The development of the state will be affected," he said.

"Let the centre and the state reduce the taxes on petrol instead. The taxes on petrol are as high as 68%. It is essential to reduce them,” he added.

"The centre and the state charge Rs 60-Rs 65 as tax on a litre of petrol. The taxes should not exceed Rs 30. The prices will stand at Rs 65-Rs 70 then. All of us should campaign for it,” Kumaraswamy suggested.