CM demands `10 reduction in excise duty from Centre

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal demanded a Rs 10 per litre cut in fuel prices, hours after the Centre announced a reduction of Rs 2.5 per litre in prices of petrol and diesel on Thursday.

Kejriwal said the Narendra Modi government raised excise duty on petrol from Rs 9.48 to Rs 19.48, leading to a steep rise in its price despite a sharp decline in international prices of crude oil.

"Modi government raised excise duty on petrol by Rs 10 and today reduced only Rs 2.50. This is cheating. Centre should bring down petrol prices at least by Rs 10," he said in a tweet.

Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari mocked the CM, saying his comment meant he wanted to help Delhi by reducing petrol prices by Rs 10 a litre.

"It means @ArvindKejriwal Ji wish to help Delhi by reducing Rs.10 per litre on petrol and diesel, nice gesture!! Thanks kejriwal Ji," Tiwari tweeted.

The Centre announced a Rs 2.50 a litre cut in petrol and diesel prices, factoring in excise duty reduction of Rs 1.50 per litre and asking oil companies to absorb another Re 1.

Tiwari demanded the Delhi government cut VAT on petrol and diesel by Rs 2.50 per litre so that the people of Delhi may also get relief of Rs 5 per litre on the fuels.

AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj charged that the Centre is "fooling" people.

"For four years, the prices of petrol and diesel were increased and now the Centre is fooling people by decreasing it by Rs 2.50 per litre," he said.

This is an attempt of providing "fake relief" to the people in view of the upcoming assembly elections in three states, Bhardwaj alleged.