BJP claims moral high ground on fuel tax

The BJP’s Bengal unit on Thursday said it would start a statewide protest after Saturday if the Bengal government doesn’t cut taxes it collects from petrol and diesel immediately, a day after the Centre reduced excise duties on petrol and diesel by Rs 5 and Rs 10 a litre.

“Several BJP-ruled states and a few others have reduced the sales tax they collect on petrol and diesel after the Centre announced the reduction on excise duty. The Bengal government did nothing of that sort… If tax the state government collects isn’t reduced immediately, the BJP will start a statewide protest after Bhaiphonta (Saturday),” Samik Bhattacharya, state BJP’s chief spokesperson said.