The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) would stage peaceful demonstrations against the skyrocketing fuel prices in all the 314 blocks of the State from May 28 to 30.
Annoouncing this , the party general secretary Sanjay Dasburma in a press conference here on Wednesday said, “We will hold protest near the Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar on May 28 against the rising hike in the prices of petrol and diesel by the Narendra Modi Government”.
Dasburma further said, “The Central Government by increasing the excise duty is responsible for the spiraling fuel prices but instead it is asking the State Government to reduce VAT on fuel. The VAT on fuel is comparatively less in Odisha than other States”.
From 2018, the Maharashtra Government is charging Rs 26 as VAT on per litre of petrol, plus Rs 9 as additional taxes. The BJP-led Government at the Centre is exploiting the common people by increasing the fuel prices, he alleged.
“In February 2015, petrol was sold at Rs 56.49 per litre and diesel at Rs 46.01 a litre, when international crude oil prices were $60.00 per barrel. Petrol now costs Rs 84.99 per litre while diesel sells at Rs 72.76 per litre due to poor policy of the Modi Government,” alleged party spokesperson Sasmit Patra.
Former Minister Arun Sahu pointed out that excise duty on petrol which was Rs 9.2 per litre in July, 2014 has increased by 200 per cent to Rs 19.48 per litre as in February, 2018.
Similarly, excise duty on diesel has increased from Rs 3.46 per litre to Rs 15.33 per litre during the same period. The Central Government instead of giving a clear cut opinion on the increasing fuel prices is trying to hoodwink the people.
The BJD activists would stage dharnas in all the 314 blocks from May 28 to 30 in this regard and sensitise the people and through the local administration memorandum addressed to the President would be presented, announced, Sahu. Among others, Biju Chhatra Janata Dal president Rana Pratap Patra was present.