No proposal to cut petrol prices in state: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai

Siddaramaiah had urged Chief Minister Bommai to cut the price of both petrol and diesel in the state

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday ruled out any cut in fuel prices in the state on the lines of what Tamil Nadu has done.

The M K Stalin-led DMK government in Tamil Nadu slashed petrol prices by Rs 3 by lowering the tax levy, prompting the Opposition Congress to ask Bommai to do the same here.

“There’s no proposal like that,” Bommai told reporters when asked about cutting fuel prices.

Last week, Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah urged Bommai to follow Tamil Nadu’s footsteps and cut the price of both petrol and diesel in Karnataka. A litre of petrol now costs Rs 105.25 in Bengaluru against Rs 99.47 in Chennai.

Also Read — Petrol to get cheaper in Tamil Nadu as Finance Minister slashes excise duty

Earlier in the day, BJP leaders from the Hebbal assembly constituency led by YA Narayana Swamy and Katta Subramanya Naidu met Bommai. The CM also met the public and heard their grievances.

“The state’s progress has to speed up. Economic activity and infrastructure need a push. With pro-poor schemes, we want the socio-economic conditions of the poor to improve,” Bommai said.

He also said that he had directed Chief Secretary P Ravi Kumar to start implementing the 14 new programmes, aimed at improving infrastructure in services, which he announced on Independence Day.

“[Kumar] has started work on that front. In a couple of days, our government will make sure its programmes reach citizens and officials have been instructed to work in that direction,” Bommai said.