NEW DELHI: With petrol and diesel rates skyrocketing on a daily basis, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkarion Friday advocated bringing fuel under the GST to curb the price hike.
“Petrol and diesel should have been brought under the Goods and Services Tax. I asked officials during a presentation if we bring fuel prices under GST will it benefit the states or not.
“They said ‘yes’, they will benefit,” Gadkari said at a news conclave here on the four years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. He said, however, the states were wary of losing revenue on account of taxes they collect from fuel prices and liquor.
“It will be good if fuel prices are brought under GST. This will not only reduce the fuel prices but will also increase the government’s revenue.”
He, however, said it was his personal opinion, and the ultimate decision regarding this remained with the Petroleum Ministry. The Minister said fuel prices were surging because of international crude oil rate.
He said the money that was saved from removing subsidy on fuel allowed the government to give free Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) connections to eight crore families across India.
