New Delhi, Jun 14 (UNI) Indian National Congress on Sunday demanded the government bring the fuels under the goods and services tax (GST) and also urged it to pass the benefit of lower crude prices to the people.
It also demanded that the rates of Petrol-Diesel-LPG gas be reduced to August 2004 level.
In a statement, AICC In-charge Communications Randeep Singh Surjewala said,' The 12 hikes in excise duty by Modi Government since May 2014 on petroleum products should be withdrawn immediately until it is brought under the GST regime.'
'Modi Govt must reduce the prices of Petrol, Diesel & LPG to the August 2004 level. It is important to remind that the current crude oil prices at about 40 US Dollars is similar to August 2004 level and yet consumers are paying a heavier bill,' he said.
In August 2004, Petrol was Rs 36.81 per litre, Diesel 24.16 and LPG Rs 261.60 per cylinder in Delhi but currently, Petrol is being sold at Rs 75.78 per litre, Diesel at Rs 74.03 per litre and LPG at Rs 593 per cylinder.

The Modi government must immediately rollback the Excise Duty hike of Rs 23.78 on petrol and Rs 28.37 on Diesel, he maintained, adding that petrol and diesel prices have been hiked by Rs 4.52 per litre and Rs 4.64 per litre respectively during the last 8 days itself despite crude oil prices being benign.
'Today 130 crore Indians are battling the Corona pandemic. The poor, migrant workers, shopkeepers, farmers, small and medium businesses and those who have lost their jobs are struggling to survive the economic ruin unleashed by the Modi government. But instead of reducing their burden the draconian and anti-people BJP Government is fleecing the people by not just raising fuel rates on daily basis but also refusing to share benefits of lower crude with people,' Mr Surjewala said.
'Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government explain why Petrol and Diesel that cost less than Rs 20 per litre to India, is being sold at steep rates of Rs 75.78 per litre for Petrol and Rs 74.03 per litre for Diesel?' he asked.
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