Cut sales tax or VAT on petrol & diesel, Pradhan appeals to states

New Delhi: Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan called upon states to cut sales tax or VAT on petrol and diesel to provide relief to consumers. "Several states have reduced VAT, we will appeal again... States, which have high VAT component, they should reduce for consumers interest," the minister told reporters here. He further said that the petroleum sector would be brought under the ambit of the GST as and when the consensus is reached among the states. In October, the government reduced excise duty on petrol to Rs 19.48 per litre from Rs 21.48 per litre and on diesel to Rs 15.33 a litre from Rs 17.33 previously.