We decreased fuel taxes when Centre increased it: Tamil Nadu CM hits out at PM Modi
India Today
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin has hit out against PM Modi for saying that states did not take measures to reduce fuel taxes. He said that the Centre only acted like reducing taxes, while the TN government lived up to its promise of reducing the taxes on petrol.
Hitting out against PM Modi’s comments that certain states have not taken measures to reduce taxes on petrol and diesel, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin said in the state Assembly on Thursday, April 28, that while the Centre increased taxes, the Tamil Nadu government had reduced it.
“The PM has said that since states didn’t reduce the taxes on petrol and diesel, the price can’t be brought down in the country. If I should reply to this, his statement is like trying to hide a whole pumpkin in a plate of rice,” said CM Stalin.
“The Union Government didn’t reduce petrol and diesel prices when crude oil prices slumped in 2014, and took the extra revenue. The Union Government reduced the tax return and could have shared it with state governments. The Union Government also increased taxes, burdening the people and earning lakhs of crores,” stated MK Stalin.
He also alleged that the Union Government only acted like they were reducing taxes right before the state elections, and after the election, steeply increased the price once again.
“However, as per our poll promise, after winning the election and keeping in mind the struggle of the people, the Tamil Nadu Government reduced the tax on petrol. People of Tamil Nadu know this very well. I leave it to the people to decide who showed interest in reducing the petrol price and who acted like reducing the petrol price, throwing the blame on someone else,” said CM Stalin in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday, April 28.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, April 27, had appealed to states ruled by the Opposition to reduce tax on fuel.
He said, "States like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Telangana, Maharashtra, Kerala and Jharkhand did not reduce tax on fuel, and should do it now."
