Politics intensifies on reducing excise on petrol and diesel, Congress says – ‘No relief, only headline management’

digital desk- The surge in crude oil prices has affected the economy of the entire world amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia and increasing tension in the Strait of Hormuz. Amidst this pressure, the Government of India announced a reduction of excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 10 in order to provide relief to the general public. But now politics has heated up regarding this decision. Congress has raised questions on this step of the Central Government and claimed that this relief is limited only on paper and headlines, while consumers are not getting any real benefit at the ground level. Congress leader Pawan Kheda, while attacking the government on social media platform X, said that if people think that petrol and diesel have become cheaper, then it is an illusion.

Public will not get relief from cuts – Pawan Kheda

According to Pawan Kheda, at present there is no real difference in prices for dealers and consumers. He clarified that the reduction that the government has said is in the ‘Special Additional Excise Duty’ that oil companies pay to the government and not in the basic tax that falls directly on consumers. He further said that words like “special” and “additional” only show how unnecessary this tax was, and now reducing it a bit will not provide much relief to the common man. Congress alleges that the government has taken this step to provide relief to oil companies, and not to lighten the pockets of the public.

There was a rise in crude oil prices after the crisis in Western Asia.

In fact, since the increase in tension in West Asia, the prices of crude oil have increased, due to which the cost pressure on oil companies has increased. Congress says that the government has cut excise to reduce this pressure, but it is being presented as a relief to the general public. Congress has demanded from the government that if relief is really to be given to consumers, then the retail prices of petrol and diesel should be directly cut, so that people can get direct benefits from it. Taking aim at the government, Pawan Kheda said that “instead of making headlines and confusing people, the government should take concrete steps.”