Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 7: Senior Congress leader and president J&K State All India Professionals’ Congress, YV Sharma expressed deep concern over the ever increasing prices of petrol and diesel in the country.
In a press statement here today, Sharma, former president of Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries said that due to the anti- people policies of the present ruling dispensation, the prices of petrol and diesel have become an `organized loot’ and nightmare for the people. The tragic aspect of the fact is that the Government is spreading lies and excuses to defend its policies, he said.
Sharma said that the International prices of crude oil in 2014 when UPA was in power was far above 100 dollar per barrel but the prices of petrol was in the range of Rs 70 – 71 per litre. During regime of NDA (2014-2018) the International prices of the crude oil fell below 50 dollar per barrel but the benefit was never passed on to the consumer. On the other hand, the Central and State Govt’s levied Excise duties and VAT charges to such an exorbitant rates that diesel and petrol became out of reach of the common people. It has badly hurt the farmers who use diesel for the tractors and water pumps resulting in the cascading prices of production of the Agricultural produce. It practically nullified the increase in Maximum Sale Price, (MSP). The Govt failed to understand that the prices of diesel and petrol forms the backbone of the Country’s economy and it affects all sectors of the economy including Agriculture, Industry, consumer prices and so on. This is the main reason for the inflation and people are fed up with the rising prices of necessities of life.
Sharma said the fall in the price of the Rupee versus Dollar and some other international events have resulted in the increase in the prices of the crude oil in the International market, but said he was not agree with the experts of the Finance Ministry that the present crisis is due to International impact and there is nothing to worry about the present situation. He asserted that despite all the International events, the International price of the crude oil is still lower than the prices during the UPA regime. He suggested that we can boost our development activities if we decrease the prices of petrol and diesel and keep away from higher taxes. Low tax rates will lead to more cash in the hands of consumer and they will spend more on purchases and country’s production will increase.
Sharma suggested that petrol and diesel must be brought under GST and the present Central Govt and the BJP led Govt’s in the States must take lead in this direction.
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