Public strongly reacts, assails BJP Govt
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, May 23: The consumers across J&K are badly hit as the prices of petrol and diesel have gone sky high with the continuous hike in the rates of petroleum products for the last 10 consecutive days.
A strong resentment is brewing among the general public against the Modi Government for its failure to control the prices of petrol and diesel. People maintained that despite reduction in the prices of crude oil in the international market during recent past, the prices of petroleum products have not witnessed reduction due to the reason best known to the BJP Government. Moreover, the present NDA Government has avoided to bring petrol and diesel under the ambit of GST which was recently implemented throughout the country on all other products/ items.
Reacting strongly against the price hike, president Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rakesh Gupta said that economy of the country has already been badly affected with the demonetisation experiment and GST implementation by the Modi Government.
“Now, the petrol and diesel prices have gone all time high in the history of the country. It is high time, that this Government must take all the necessary steps to reduce the prices of diesel and petrol, otherwise, its hike is going to affect the prices of all the commodities including essentials as well as the transport industry”, he said.
Gupta suggested that in the first step, the State Government must withdraw Rs 2 per litre cess on the petrol and diesel and also reduce the sales tax which is higher as compared to Himachal and Punjab States. Due to this reason, many construction companies operating in the State, even the security forces are procuring petrol and diesel from Punjab and Haryana. It has been causing loss to the petrol pump dealers in the State.
YV Sharma, former president Chamber of Commerce & Industry Jammu lambasted the Modi Govt on its policy for the price of petrol and diesel. Sharma stated that BJP has its Govt at the Centre and in almost 20 States of the country. Claiming to have transparency in its policies, the Modi Govt is indulging in organized and surreptitious loot in oil prices. There is huge hue and cry in the country but the Central Govt is issuing ambiguous statements from time to time. The Union Government and BJP ruled State Govts extorted huge amounts in the form of Excise duty and VAT.
They have deliberately not brought petroleum prices under the purview of GST. The result is that the prices of petrol in some States have crossed Rs 85 per litre and that of diesel Rs 75/ litre. The Govt fails to understand that the oil is the back bone of our economy and it affects the price of every commodity. It is a paradox that the prices of oil in our country are 30 to 40 percent more than many countries of the world. He demanded that the oil prices should immediately be brought under GST regime.
Anan Sharma, president All J&K Oil Tanker Owners Association said that In Jammu the price of petrol was Rs 78.58/ litre and diesel Rs 69.24 per litre on May 22; but today ( May 23) it again increased on the tenth consecutive day to Rs 78.88 and Rs 69.50, respectively. He said this is the highest ever price of petrol and diesel in the history of the country. Sharma said that the State Government is charging Rs 2 per litre as cess on the name of development charges for maintaining road infrastructure but see the condition of the roads in all the districts. During past nine days, there has been increase in the rates of petrol by Rs 2.24 and Rs 2.15 in respect of diesel prices and it is still un-awaited.
Sharma further revealed that J&K Government is charging 21 % Sales Tax /VAT on petrol and 14.5 % on diesel. The Central Excise duty on petrol is Rs 19.48 per litre while on diesel it is Rs 15.33. The prices of crude oil in the international market remained too, low during past three years but the Modi Government did not allowed reduction in the price of petrol of diesel with the intensions to generate huge revenue and provide benefit to the Corporate sector. He pointed out that in Punjab petrol is cheaper by 72 paise and in Himachal by 42 paise and in Haryana it is more cheater than Punjab.
He claimed that for winter stocks in Ladakh, about 1,22000 k.lit of petrol-diesel is stocked by oil companies every year for Army and other supplies. This oil is coming from outside the State; mostly from Ambala, Jallandhar and Sangroor. The security forces and other big companies working on roads and tunnels besides industrialists are also bringing fuel from outside the state, thus causing loss to the petrol pump dealers/ operators in the State. He demanded that J&K Government should immediately stop charging Rs 2 cess imposed on consumers/ public and also reduce the sales tax. The Central Government should also reduce the Excise duty on the petroleum products, he added.
TS Wazir, chairman All J&K Motor Transport Companies Association said that this Government has broken all the previous records with respect to hike in the prices of petrol and diesel. It will directly affect the transport industry which is already struggling in the State. He said the Government has failed to give hike in the freight / fare rates despite repeated requests by transporters and moreover, this massive hike will break the back bone of the transporters.
He demanded that Government should withdraw cess of Rs 2 per litre on petrol and diesel which is being taken from the consumers on the pretext of maintenance of roads. It should also reduce VAT on the fuel and Central Excise duty on petroleum products. He said that with the increase in the rates of petrol and diesel, the rates of essential commodities, vegetables and fruits etc will also increase.
GA Mir, PCC president while reacting sharply over the price hike, alleged that Modi Govt has failed to control the prices of petrol and diesel. He said during past few years, the price of crude oil per barrel in the international market remained too, low. But despite this fact, the BJP Government did not slash the rates of petrol and diesel. The BJP used to curse the Congress Govt when it was in opposition, but now they stand exposed. He said the price of petrol and diesel has reached all time high and in the J&K State it is much costlier than Himachal and Punjab. Mir said the rates will directly affect the common man as freight and transportation charges are going to increase in the near future and common man will be the big sufferer.
Mir further said that State as well as the Central Governments should reduce the VAT/ Excise duty on the petrol and diesel. He disclosed that Congress as main opposition party has decided to stage protest demonstration against the price hike of petrol and diesel at Jammu and Srinagar cities on Thursday.
However, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (J&K), Mohd Ashraf Mir when contacted said that he would hold meeting with the Minister for Finance, Sayed Mohd Altaf Bukhari and other concerned senior functionaries in the Government tomorrow and take an appropriate decision after discussing the matter in detail. He said this is the issue which pertains to entire country. No doubt, some States reduced the VAT after request by the Prime Minister but the State Government would take decision with regard to reduction in VAT/ Cess etc after discussing the matter thoroughly.
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