The Union government, which increased the excise duty on petrol by 30 paise a litre and on diesel by Rs. 1.17 a litre on Wednesday, sought to counter criticism that consumers have not benefited from the record-low prices of crude. As the Rajya Sabha met for the day, the Congress and other Opposition parties raised the issue over an item on the supplementary agenda regarding the increase in the excise duty.
Responding to the Opposition’s charge, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the drop was being passed on to consumers as the petrol price had been reduced 20 times and that of diesel 16 times. Of the excise duty raised on the sale of fuel, he said 42 per cent of it went to the States.
