Congress demands further reduction in excise duty on petrol, diesel

While the government informed that Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection has gone back to pre-pandemic levels, Congress on Saturday demanded a further reduction in the excise duty imposed on petrol and diesel during the pandemic.

“The government has been patting its back, boasting that the GST collection has gone back to the pre-pandemic level. You (government) used Covid as an excuse to increase the excise duty on petrol and diesel. Please reduce the excise duty of ₹13 and ₹19 imposed on petrol and diesel respectively during the pandemic,” said Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said at a press conference on Saturday

This comes days after the government reduced ₹5 and ₹10 on the excise duty on petrol and diesel amid spiralling fuel prices, and urged states to further bring down the rates by reducing Value Added Tax (VAT).