<p>Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday announced that the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel will be reduced by Rs 2 per liter in the state.</p>.<p>The decision came after Naidu held a high level meeting with officials in the wake of Bharat Bandh, during which the TDP, Naidu's party, also participated in the state-wide agitations.</p>.<p>Naidu announced the decision on the floor of the house during a discussion in the state Assembly.</p>.<p>It is to be noted that Andhra Pradesh has the third highest percentage of VAT on petrol (35.77%) after Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, while it has the highest percentage of VAT on diesel i.e 28.08%.</p>.<p>“I am concerned over the plight of the common man. Even though the state is undergoing severe financial crunch we are reducing Rs 2 per liter. This will make a dent of Rs 1,120 crore to the exchequer,” Naidu said.</p>.<p>He accused the NDA government at the Centre of misleading the people by attributing the steep hike in the prices of petrol and diesel to the growing crude oil prices globally.</p>.<p>“During 2013-14, the crude oil prices were $ 105.52 per barrel. But when the price fell down to $ 46 dollars, too, the Centre did not reduce the petrol and diesel prices. Now, the crude oil costs $ 70 per barrel, but the Centre is increasing the petrol and diesel prices abnormally every day,” he said.</p>.<p>He said that his government had taken a decision to give partial relief to people who have suffered the impact of demonetization by reducing the VAT by Rs 2 per liter.</p>.<p>Sources in the TDP say that in the wake of elections, the chief minister’s decision will give a tremendous political mileage to the party.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, the bandh call given by the Congress, Janasena and left parties in the state had a partial impact.</p>.<p>While transport services came to a halt particularly in Vijayawada, Guntur and Kadapa, in other places a few offices worked as usual.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, the Congress cadre prevented many state-owned transport buses from functioning by stopping them at the depot gates and s<span>everal CPI and CPM leaders were arrested for blocking roads.</span></p>.<p><span>However, the Opposition YSRCP stayed away from participating in the bandh.</span></p>
<p>Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday announced that the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel will be reduced by Rs 2 per liter in the state.</p>.<p>The decision came after Naidu held a high level meeting with officials in the wake of Bharat Bandh, during which the TDP, Naidu's party, also participated in the state-wide agitations.</p>.<p>Naidu announced the decision on the floor of the house during a discussion in the state Assembly.</p>.<p>It is to be noted that Andhra Pradesh has the third highest percentage of VAT on petrol (35.77%) after Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, while it has the highest percentage of VAT on diesel i.e 28.08%.</p>.<p>“I am concerned over the plight of the common man. Even though the state is undergoing severe financial crunch we are reducing Rs 2 per liter. This will make a dent of Rs 1,120 crore to the exchequer,” Naidu said.</p>.<p>He accused the NDA government at the Centre of misleading the people by attributing the steep hike in the prices of petrol and diesel to the growing crude oil prices globally.</p>.<p>“During 2013-14, the crude oil prices were $ 105.52 per barrel. But when the price fell down to $ 46 dollars, too, the Centre did not reduce the petrol and diesel prices. Now, the crude oil costs $ 70 per barrel, but the Centre is increasing the petrol and diesel prices abnormally every day,” he said.</p>.<p>He said that his government had taken a decision to give partial relief to people who have suffered the impact of demonetization by reducing the VAT by Rs 2 per liter.</p>.<p>Sources in the TDP say that in the wake of elections, the chief minister’s decision will give a tremendous political mileage to the party.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, the bandh call given by the Congress, Janasena and left parties in the state had a partial impact.</p>.<p>While transport services came to a halt particularly in Vijayawada, Guntur and Kadapa, in other places a few offices worked as usual.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, the Congress cadre prevented many state-owned transport buses from functioning by stopping them at the depot gates and s<span>everal CPI and CPM leaders were arrested for blocking roads.</span></p>.<p><span>However, the Opposition YSRCP stayed away from participating in the bandh.</span></p>
