Cong slams Centre, Delhi govt for high fuel prices

NEW DELHI: Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Maken on Sunday joined Congress workers in their signature campaign near Zakir Hussain College, Civic Centre to collect 10 lakh signatures from petrol pumps across the Capital to protest against the unprecedented rise in petrol and diesel prices.

Maken said the 10 lakh signatures thus collected will be presented to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to express people's anguish at the unchecked rise in prices of petrol and diesel.

Maken said if excise and VAT duties are reduced,

petrol could be sold in Delhi for Rs 34 per litre, while diesel prices will come down to Rs 32 per litre.

Forms were distributed to customers at petrol pumps, asking them whether they agree to the suggestion of cutting down excise and VAT duties, which would bring down prices of petrol and diesel.

"In the last three years, the Central government has increased the excise duty on petrol by 133 per cent and on diesel by 400 per cent.

"Meanwhile, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government increased VAT on petrol from 20 to 27 per cent per litre, while VAT on diesel was increased from 12.5 per cent to 16.75 per cent," Maken said.