Tamil Nadu govt must cut VAT on fuel: AIADMK – Times of India

CHENNAI: Against the backdrop of the Centre slashing excise duty on fuel and several states reducing VAT, the AIADMK on Friday demanded that the Tamil Nadu government reduce petrol and diesel prices by slashing VAT by Rs 2 litre and Rs 4 litre respectively. In August, the DMK government cut the price of petrol by Rs 3 per litre.
In a statement, AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam said the price of petrol and diesel stood at Rs 106.76 and Rs 102.69 respectively on November 11 and several states saw the prices exceeding the Rs 100-mark resulting in inflation and untold hardships to people.
“The Union government has reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 5 and Rs 10 respectively on Diwali to check inflation and encourage agriculture, manufacturing and services sectors that are making progress after a fall in Covid positive cases. Following this, the petrol and diesel prices now stand at Rs 101.40 and Rs 91.43 respectively in Chennai. It is truly a welcome move,” the AIADMK leader said.
The states like Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Tripura, Manipur, Sikkim, besides Goa and Puducherry governments reduced VAT by Rs 7 per litre. Uttarakhand, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha also slashed the prices. The silence of the Tamil Nadu government on reducing the prices caused dissatisfaction among people, Panneerselvam said, adding that there was an expectation among people to see VAT on fuel cut by Rs 7 per litre, which would also lead to significant reduction of prices of essential commodities.
In a statement, party joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami said the state government should reduce the price of fuel and waive jewel loans in nationalised and commercial banks as per the ruling DMK election manifesto.
He said the state should take up the assessment of affected standing crop due to rain and announce compensation for the loss. The government should also improve the credit facility in cooperative institutions to make available the crop loan to all members, the former chief minister said.