Government under attack in Lok Sabha for levying additional petrol excise duty

NEW DELHI: Government came under attack in the Lok Sabha today over levying additional excise duty on petrol and diesel with Congress, Left parties and TMC alleging that the move was aimed at denying the common man lower prices for his fuel.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Leader of the Congress Mallikarjun Kharge regretted that the easing of international prices of crude oil was being utilised by the government to offset its budgetary deficit, much to the detriment of the consumers.

Noting that prices of crude oil internationally have come down from $120 to $65-70, he said the prices of petrol and diesel should have come down by Rs 3.25 per litre but the situation is being used to mop up Rs 15,000 crore to reduce budgetary deficit.

He regretted that the government is always quick to raise the prices of petroleum products if there is hike in global crude prices, does not lower the rates when the prices tumble.

Left and TMC members immediately supported Kharge while N K Premchandran (RSP) objected to the government making the two hikes in excise duties without laying the notification before Parliament. "Parliament is being taken for granted", he said.

Earlier in the day, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan rejected a notice of adjournment motion given by Congress and RSP to discuss the hike in excise duty on diesel and petrol.

She said though the issue raised by Kharge and Premchandran are important, they are not so urgent to disrupt the business of the day.