New Delhi: Amid the steep rise in fuel prices, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameshwar Teli compared the price of petrol to that of packaged mineral water, saying the cost of water is high.
He also said that taxes on petroleum products funded the free COVID-19 vaccines provided by the government to the people, the ANI report said.
Interacting with media persons in Assam on Saturday, he said that the price of petrol is not high but tax is levied and it is also a means of raising resources. He also said that VAT (Value Added Tax) on petrol in Assam is the lowest among other states.
“Petrol price is not high, it includes tax. The price of (packaged mineral) water is higher than that of fuel. Petrol costs Rs 40, Assam government levies VAT Rs 28, petroleum ministry charges Rs 30 98 becomes Rs. But if you drink Himalayan water, a bottle costs Rs 100. Water costs more, not oil,” he was quoted by ANI.
The minister further said that the money for free vaccines comes from the taxes collected by the central government.
“Fuel prices are not high, but that includes the tax levied. You must have got a free vaccine, where will the money come from? You haven’t paid the money, that’s how it was collected,” he said. said.
Petrol and diesel prices continued to rise for the seventh consecutive day on Monday. Petrol and diesel prices in Delhi were increased by ₹ 0.30 (Rs 104.44/litre) and ₹ 0.35 (Rs 93.17 per litre), respectively. In Mumbai, petrol cost ₹ 110.41/Litre (up to ₹ 0.29) and Diesel cost ₹ 101.03/Lit (up to ₹ 0.37).
Taking a jibe at the opposition, the minister said that these governments think that if the fuel prices remain high, the Center will get the blame. The Union Minister said that the price of petrol is highest in Rajasthan and the state government has imposed maximum VAT on petrol.
“Even if we reduce the price, they will not,” he said, adding that VAT could be reduced by the state government.
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