CHANDIGARH: Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma on Saturday slammed the Charanjit Singh Channi-led government in the state for not reducing Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel to provide relief to consumers.
He said that the Centre had provided relief to people by reducing excise duty on petrol and diesel before Diwali.
Sharma said the BJP-ruled states also slashed VAT on fuel that led to a reduction in retail prices of petrol and diesel.
But the Congress-led government in Punjab has not reduced tax on fuel, he stated.
He accused the Channi-led government of trying to befool people but not giving any relief to them.
"Why the Punjab government is not giving relief to people by reducing VAT on fuel," Sharma asked in a statement.
He stated that after the reduction in excise duty and VAT in Chandigarh, the rate of petrol and diesel stood at Rs 94.23 and Rs 80.90 a litre.
But as against this, the rates of petrol and diesel were Rs 106.20 and 89.83 per litre.
He demanded from the Punjab government to bring the fuel rates on par with that of Chandigarh.
Punjab BJP general secretary Subhash Sharma wrote a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, demanding a reduction in taxes on petrol and diesel.