Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Sunday accused the Modi government “of being anti-consumer and squeezing the consumer with high fuel prices”, and asked for petroleum products to be brought under the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
In a series of tweets, the Congress leader questioned the Centre over the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s acquisition of the government’s stake in Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., and asserted that it would have an impact on the fiscal deficit.
“Petrol and diesel prices have hit the roof. Govt. continues to squeeze the consumers. Absolutely anti-consumer,” he said in one of his tweets.
Mr. Chidambaram accused the government of squandering windfall gains collected through “massive taxation” on petrol and diesel on “wasteful expenditure”. “Why does not the BJP bring petrol and diesel under GST and give relief to consumers,” he asked.
On the ONGC move, Mr. Chidambaram said, “Govt cuts borrowing by ₹30,000 crore, but ONGC will borrow ₹30,000 crore to pay govt for HPCL shares. It has the same effect.”
