A day ahead of her visit to Delhi where she was likely to join a meeting to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday attacked the Centre blaming it for rising fuel prices and demanded immediate reduction of LPG prices.
Alleging that the Centre was trying to shift the blame on the States instead of addressing the real issue of inflation, Banerjee said, “the price of cooking gas should immediately be slashed at least by Rs 300 and the price of petrol and diesel should also be brought down … instead of doing that the Centre is always trying to shift the blame on the States.”
Her statement came hours after Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri attacked the opposition ruled states for not reducing the value added tax on fuel.
She said that she was apprehending a fresh rise in fuel prices and “so the Prime Minister made an excuse by asking the States to reduce VATs … instead of doing so they should concentrate on the real issues.” She said that “even the Union Government pays even half the amount that is due to us then we will give bigger relief on VAT than the BJP-ruled States.”
Bengal had a total GST dues from the Centre to the tune of Rs 95,000 crore she claimed.
On whether she would write to the Centre on rising fuel prices she said, “I have given several letters to the Centre on the issue but they have never given me a reply” adding “you (Centre) raise prices, cut the pockets of the common man, slash the legitimate financial dues of the States and then blame the state governments,” this cannot go on indefinitely.” Banerjee further said that the “Centre has earned Rs 3 lakh crore by looting the people on account of rising fuel prices and not they are shifting the liability on us.”
On whether she was likely to meet the Prime Minister on this issue during her stay in Delhi, Banerjee said would not be able to make it this time round as she had to attend the Eid festivities in Bengal. “As you know I attend the programmes of all the religions … this time also I will have to attend the Eid celebrations of the minorities who constitute 33 percent of the State’s population,” Banerjee said.