Petrol and diesel prices continue to rise. Petrol price stayed beyond Rs 81 mark in Mumbai, where it was sold at Rs 81.17 per litre today - 15 paise more expensive than yesterday.
In Delhi, it cost Rs 73.71 - a four-year high - while in Kolkata it was available at Rs 76 and in Chennai at Rs 76.04 per litre.
A litre of diesel cost Rs 68.30 in Mumbai today. In Delhi, the price of one litre of diesel was Rs 64.14 - an all-time high - compared to Rs 66.81 in Kolkata and Rs 67.65 in Chennai. The oil prices show no sign of coming down any soon. And, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan may just have explained why.
Responding to a question in Parliament, Dharmendra Pradhan said that since the Centre's decision to cut excise duty in October 2017, only four states and a Union Territory have slashed sales tax or VAT on petrol and diesel.
Announcing an excise duty cut in October, the Centre had asked the states to follow the step by announcing an equal reduction in sales tax or VAT to give the aam aadmi some respite from high petrol and diesel prices. But most of the states have not paid any heed to Centre's advice.