Mumbai, May 28 (PTI) Senior NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil on Thursday appealed to the Maharashtra government to immediately withdraw VAT and surcharge on petrol and diesel, claiming the move would bring
down fuel prices and offer relief amid rising inflation.
The former state finance minister, in a statement, said he has written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, noting that continuous fuel price hikes have badly affected common people and immediate relief measures are necessary.
The economic situation in Maharashtra and across the country had come under severe pressure due to the conflict in the Gulf countries. Prices of edible oil, vegetables and other essential commodities have increased sharply, directly impacting ordinary citizens, Patil said.
"The continuous increase in petrol and diesel prices is adding to the burden of inflation and has broken the back of common people," the former NCP (SP) state chief claimed.
Fuel prices were hiked four times in the last 10 days. Petrol was being sold in Mumbai at Rs 111.12 per litre, while diesel was priced at Rs 96.86 per litre, Patil noted.
The Maharashtra government currently levies around 25 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) and a Rs 10.12 per litre surcharge on petrol. In comparison, diesel attracts around 24 per cent VAT and Rs 3 per litre surcharge across the state, including Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai, he pointed out.
Patil demanded that the state government abolish VAT and surcharge on petrol and diesel, claiming such a move could bring down fuel prices to around Rs 70-80 per litre and provide substantial relief to people. PTI MR GK
