Congress protests fuel price hike in Odisha Assembly

The Congress also moved a notice for discussion on the fuel price hike in the state which was debated for about 90 minutes

Protests against soaring prices of petrol and diesel, which has touched its all-time high in the state, were heard both inside Odisha Assembly and outside it on Tuesday as the opposition parties demanded reduction in tax by the Centre and state to ease the burden of the consumers.

They blamed both central and state governments for the situation.

NSUI activists staged a demonstration here blaming the BJP-led government at the Centre for the fuel price hike, while some Congress MLAs cycled to the Assembly as a mark of protest.

The party's lawmakers - Suresh Kumar Routray, Taraprasad Bahinipati and Adhiraj Panigrahi were seen riding bicycles on Lok Seva Marg on their way to the Assembly to attend the budget session.

The opposition party also moved a notice for discussion on the fuel price hike in the state which was debated for about 90 minutes.

Both the Central and Odisha governments are equally responsible for the fuel price hike. Both fail to feel the people's plights, Bahinipati, the Congress whip said.

Blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for creating Bure Din (bad days) for the citizens instead of Acche Din (good days) promised by him, Congress MLAs demanded that both the governments reduce tax rates to provide relief to the people who are already struggling due to the situation due to the pandemic.

Read | Oil tax cut will boost consumption demand, help revive Indian economy: Report

The agitating Congress members also pointed out that the fuel price hike has not only hit the traders, but also farmers, students, daily wage earners and other sections of the society.

Odisha Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari said the tax collected on fuel by the state government is utilised for the welfare of poor people.

He said GST had been imposed on all materials and services in the state barring crude oil, petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, natural gas and liquor.

The Centre is collecting Rs 32.90 from a litre of fuel, while Odisha government is levying Rs 21.40 as 32 per cent VAT on it, he said.

Pujari suggested that the Centre withdraw infrastructure cess and agricultural infrastructure development cess, Rs 18 and Rs 2.50 per litre respectively, to reduce fuel price.

Pujari said the price of 1 litre petrol in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday is Rs 91.66. While Rs 33.68 is the base price fixed by the oil marketing companies, the central excise duty is Rs 1.40. The additional excise duty is Rs 11.

Taking all these taxes into account, the central government charges Rs 32.90 per litre while the states share is Rs 21.40 towards 32 per cent VAT, Pujari clarified.

Also Read | Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh attack govt over fuel price hike

In Bhubaneswar the price of 1 litre of diesel on Tuesday is Rs 88.63. The Centre takes Rs 31.80 from this amount, while Odisha gets Rs Rs 18.90 as 28 per cent VAT, Pujari said.

The minister also informed the House that the price of petrol is Rs 98.96 in Bhopal, Rs 97.34 in Mumbai, Rs 91.12 in Kolkata, Rs 92.90 in Chennai, Rs 94.54 in Hyderabad and Patna, Rs 93.25 in Thiruvananthapuram and Rs 97.47 in Visakhapatnam.

Congress lawmaker Suresh Kumar Routray said the Odisha government should reduce VAT on petroleum products like in West Bengal and Chhattishgarh.

Bahinipati raised questions on ruling BJDs silence on fuel price hike. When there was a raise of only 10 paise in the price of petrol, the BJD workers had hit the streets. This is not happening in Odisha now as BJD and BJP have joined hands to exploit the people.

Defending the central government, BJP deputy leader in Assembly B C Sethi said that the allegations made by Congress are "politically motivated".

He, however, echoed the Congress demand for reduction of VAT by the state government.

Also Read | Petrol, diesel prices hiked again: Check fuel rates here

Sethi said as there is no one present from the ministry of petroleum and natural gas, there is no point in holding the discussion in the Assembly.

The BJP lawmaker rejected the Congress allegation that the people are annoyed with Modi and claimed that as per a recent survey about 91 per cent of them appreciate him.

BJP whip Mohan Majhi also defended the Centre and claimed that the funds raised from fuel price hike is being spent for welfare schemes. As many as 15.34 lakh poor people had been provided with free cooking gas in Odisha during the pandemic.

Let Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik set an example by reducing the fuel price, Majhi said.

Utkal Petroleum Dealers Association secretary Sanjay Lath said the fuel price hike in the state is the highest so far.

A report said that petrol price has touched a record high of Rs 100.29 (premium) and Rs 97.14 (normal petrol) per litre in Kalimela block of Malkangiri district.