Congress has come out to criticize the Narendra Modi government after it reduced customs duties $10 each on petrol and diesel on Friday but did not pass on the benefit to the end consumer – meaning prices at fuel stations remain the same.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders, from Home Minister Amit Shah to Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, thanked Prime Minister Modi for “providing relief to the citizens” through the tax cut.
However, congressional leaders questioned the government’s claims, questioning whether cutting tariffs would actually lower fuel prices for consumers.
Congress leader Pawan Khera argued that the duty cuts are for oil marketing companies and not a subsidy for the general public, as they will end up paying the same amount even after the reduction. He also said that the government has raised customs duties 12 times in the last 11 and a half years and reducing it now is not in the interest of the people of India.
“Look at the audacity of (Oil Minister) Hardeep Puri. He is saying that they want to provide relief to the people of India so that they do not face the burden, so the government of India is bearing the burden. The government of India is the government of the people of India. The money belongs to the people of India,” Khaira added.
Moreover, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh accused the BJP of reducing excise duty to “influence” assembly elections in four key states – Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam – and UT Puducherry in April.
In a post on X, Ramesh pointed out that when global crude oil prices fell over the past 12 years, the government did not reduce consumer fuel prices in India. He stressed that the latest step came only because of the imminent elections.
“When global crude oil prices fell, as they have on seven different occasions in the last 12 years, consumer prices in India did not. Today’s announcement was due to the Assembly elections. Wait till April 30,” the post read. Voting in all of these elections ends on April 29, although the results are scheduled to be announced on May 4.
DK Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, also reiterated the position of his party colleagues that the government is working to influence the outcome of the upcoming elections.
“The government of India is burdening us… They are doing this for elections. Nayara Energy has already increased prices. We will highlight this issue to the people of the state,” Shivakumar told reporters, referring to Nayara Energy’s decision to hike rates.
Asked whether the state government would take any measures to reduce prices, he said: “We will talk about that later.”
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What does the government say about reducing customs duties on gasoline and diesel?
Petrol and diesel prices in India saw no change on Friday, even after the excise duty reduction.
The government said that the cuts aim to reduce oil companies’ losses at a time when crude oil prices rose from $70 per barrel to $122 per barrel.
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, in a post on X: “The Modi government had two options – either increase prices significantly for the citizens of Bharat, as all other countries have done, or bear the burden on its finances so that Indian citizens are insulated from international fluctuations. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in line with his government’s commitment over the last four years since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, has decided to strike at India.” Their own money back to protect Indian citizens.
India imports 88 percent of its crude oil needs and about half of its natural gas needs. Most of these supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran closed after the outbreak of war on February 28. However, Iran stated that the strait is closed only to its opponents, and energy supplies can pass to others with prior permission.
Omar Abdullah urges the Prime Minister to use his influence to end the war in Iran
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday urged the Prime Minister to use his ties with world leaders to help end the “unjust and illegal” war in Iran. He also expressed his condolences on the death of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with other Iranian leaders who died in the conflict.
Abdullah said: “I also sincerely appeal to our Prime Minister to use all available channels and diplomatic relations to help end this war as soon as possible. This will benefit not only us, but all of humanity.”
