Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for not lowering ‘Value Added Tax’ (VAT) on petrol and diesel in Delhi, leading to strike of over 400 petrol pump dealers on Monday.
Maken said that ever since the prices of petrol and diesel started shooting up in an unbridled manner due to the higher excise duty by the BJP-led Central Government and higher VAT by the Delhi Government. The Delhi Government has refused to reduce it, forcing people to visit neighbouring States for the same due to lower tax in these States, he said.
It may be recalled that Maken wrote to Kejriwal on October 6 this year, requesting him to reduce VAT on petrol and diesel to the same level as it was in December, 2013, during the Congress regime in Delhi” but he did not reply yet, stated a release issued by the Congress. Maken had pointed out that the VAT charged on petrol in Delhi is 27 per cent and that on diesel is 16.5 per cent, while the same during the Congress regime in Delhi was 20 per cent and 12 per cent respectively. “A reduction in taxes on petrol and diesel will benefit the lowest segments of the society as Delhi has about 70 lakh two-wheelers, 1,75,000 three-wheelers, 2,25,000 goods careers and 1,20,000 motor cabs, the rates being charged in terms of VAT on petrol and diesel is a “direct robbing of these hapless people”.