Rahul Gandhi wants petrol, diesel brought under GST

Common man in distress, he tells PM.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi speaks at a public meeting at Sewagram in Wardha on October 2, 2018.

A day after the Centre reduced the excise duty on petroleum products and most States responded with a cut in the value-added tax (VAT), Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring petrol and diesel within the ambit of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

“Respected Modi ji , the common man is very distressed over skyrocketing prices of petrol and diesel. Kindly bring petrol and diesel under the purview of GST,” he tweeted in Hindi.

On Thursday, the Centre effected a ₹2.50 per litre cut in prices of petrol and diesel and most BJP-ruled States responded by further reducing VAT to go with the Centre’s move.

Opposition-ruled States like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Kerala had already reduced VAT but Congress-ruled Punjab is yet to take a call.

Rupee value

Mr. Gandhi has been been attacking the government over high petrol and diesel prices and the falling value of rupee. “#Breaking: Rupee slips to 73.77 It’s not breaking - it’s Broken,” tweeted Mr. Gandhi on Thursday, minutes after the rupee had touched a record low of 74 to a dollar.

Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said the government seems to be clueless. “The kindest thing that can be said about the government’s handling of the current volatile situation is ‘They are clueless’,” Mr. Chidambaram tweeted on Friday.

“The people will pay a heavy price for the follies of the BJP-led NDA government. It is time for some BJP MPs and allies to speak their mind,” he added.