Pointing to the elevated expenditure within the well being sector in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan stated on Monday that it was not the correct time to debate a reduce in taxes of petrol and diesel.
“At present, the earning is less. We cannot compromise on the expenditure. The expenditure of health sector has increased. We do not have any shortcuts … Welfare and development activities, essential investment, spending, have to be done. So be it state government or Government of India, this is not the right time to discuss about tax, as the expenditures have gone up,” he advised reporters.
When requested if the Centre was contemplating bringing petrol and diesel beneath GST, Pradhan stated, “Till the time, there is no consensus in the GST council … I as secretary incharge can say this should happen, but its decision rests on the GST Council.”
Meanwhile, petrol worth was hiked by 28 paise per litre and diesel by 27 paise on Monday.
Tag: india petrol diesel tax
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Not proper time to debate tax cuts on petrol, diesel: Dharmendra Pradhan