Mumbai: Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Ashok Chavan urged State Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday to reduce the 'unjust taxes' imposed on fuel prices and to abolish various surcharges imposed by the state government on it.
In a letter, addressed Mr Fadanvis in this regard, copy of which was released to media, Mr Chavan said that the Chief Minister should follow up with the Central Government to bring fuel under Goods and Services Tax (GST) system.
''Currently, petrol and diesel prices are highest in the state of Maharashtra. After the central government came under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2014, the rate of international crude oil prices were 108 Dollors per barrel and later dropped to around 25-27 dollars per barrel, but the prices of petrol and diesel continued to increase in our country,'' he said.
''Even today, when petrol and diesel prices are around $ 70 a barrel, the rate of petrol and diesel is more than the rates in 2014 and they have reached the highest level in the last five years,'' he pointed out, claiming that the main reason for this was the huge burden of taxes on petrol and diesel collected by the Central and State Governments.
''During the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) regime, the global crude oil prices went up to $ 147 a barrel but government did not put burden on the masses. In the neighboring state of Karnataka, petrol is cheaper by Rs 9 per liter and diesel 3.50 per liter,'' he added.
