UDF raises petrol tax 13 times; LDF has not increased fuel tax; Reduced once | Kerala | Deshabhimani

Thiruvananthapuram
During the last UDF government, petrol tax was increased 13 times. The state has raised sales tax whenever petrol and diesel prices have fallen due to falling crude oil prices.

In August 2014, the state tax on petrol was 26.21 per cent. It was enough for the state to keep the tax unchanged so that the people could benefit from the reduction in the price of crude oil. However, the tax rate was increased to 26.92 in September, 27.42 in October, 28.72 in November and 29.92 in January 2015. In February 2015 – 30.18 per cent.

Kerala has not increased fuel tax since 2016. The previous LDF government in June 2018 reduced the petrol tax to 30.08 per cent and the diesel tax to 22.76 per cent. At that rate there was a benefit of Rs 509 crore. Finance Minister KN Balagopal has said that inflation will cross Rs 1,500 crore.

States including UP, Goa, Haryana, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka have increased fuel tax in Kovil. Despite the huge financial burden, Kerala did not increase it. Within seven years, the Center had increased the additional tax by Rs. Now the reduction is only nominal. The Center charges Rs 27.9 per liter for petrol and Rs 21.8 per liter for diesel. Kerala gets Rs 22.9 and Rs 21.8 respectively.

Added‌ fewer states
The states that have increased the fuel sales tax in the name of Kovid are the ones that have been given tax breaks when the Center has reduced the tax. During the Kovid period, Assam increased taxes on petrol by five per cent and on diesel by seven per cent. Goa ten and seven per cent. Karnataka five each. Manipur 1 and 12 per cent. Tripura had raised taxes by eight to six per cent.

Opposition’s position is double-edged

The oil pool account in the country was deleted by former UPA Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The BJP government is ramping up special excise duty. The Opposition in Kerala is demanding that the revenue received by the state should be abandoned. The Congress leaders in the state are taking the advocacy of the BJP leaders. He said the Congress was rejecting the resolution of the Congress Working Committee in the state.