Union Minister Nisith Pramanik on Sunday took a swipe at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for remaining silent after the Central government on the eve of Diwali reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel.
Mamata Banerjee months ago when fuel prices were hitting high had held protests in West Bengal against the Centre. However, the CM has not reacted after the Narendra Modi led government slashed the excise duty on petrol by Rs 5 and on diesel by Rs 10.
Nisith Pramanik said, there were protests in Bengal for fuel price but the CM is quiet today when prices have been reduced.
"In other states like Assam, Tripura, govt has reduced taxes, likewise, Bengal should do the same so that people don't have to go to Assam for fuel," the minister added.
To provide relief to common man amid festive season, the central government had announced to reduce the excise duty on auto fuel earlier this week. Following the footsteps of the Centre, at least 16 states and seven Union territories had slashed the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel prices in India. All these states are rule by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies. After the price cut, petrol price has come down under Rs 100-per-litre mark in most part of the country.
The petrol and diesel prices remained constant for the third consecutive day on Sunday, November 7 across the country. A litre of petrol would cost Rs 109.98 per litre in Mumbai. Petrol price was highest in the financial capital among four metrol cities. Petrol was price at Rs 103.97 in Delhi after the steep excise duty cut.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Cabinet today announced a reduction in the prices of petrol and diesel in the state by Rs 10 and Rs 5 per litre respectively.
"We have decided to decrease petrol and diesel prices by Rs 10 per litre and Rs 5 per litre, respectively, to be effective from midnight today," said Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Sunday.
