‘You hiked fuel tax, you reduce them’, Tamil Nadu tells Centre

In a strong response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that Opposition-ruled states not reducing fuel taxes in synchronisation with the Centre has burdened people there, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday said the remarks are akin to “trying to cover a pumpkin in a handful of rice.”

Stalin and Finance Minister P T R Palanivel Thiaga Rajan tore into the Union Government by accusing it of “devouring” Rs 26 lakh crore rupees from fuel prices in the last 8 years. Rajan said the Centre still levies an additional tax of Rs 18.42 per litre for petrol,