After the havoc created on Tuesday due to increased petrol and diesel prices, the government has frozen the fuel prices for Wednesday and it remained fixed to Rs.86.72 and Rs.75.74 for petrol and diesel respectively.
The price hike has greatly influenced the motorists and has hit their pocket, as a result, the transporters have given a two week’s ultimatum to the government for a Nationwide protest against the price hike. As a result, the government has decided to bring the Petrol and diesel under the GST ambit in Maharashtra and Nationwide.
This would greatly influence the prices and would be helpful in keeping the price constant. On one side the State Finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar made an announcement that the BJP led State government would push and try to get the motor fuels i.e. petrol and diesel to be included in GST, whereas Bal Malkit Singh, member of All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) alleged the government stating an incidence during the Karnataka elections when the prices of petrol and diesel was frozen for 19 days.
He added that it is under the power of the government to control the fuel price. He further explained that the central government could reduce the excise duty on fuel whereas the Maharashtra government could do this by a reduction in the VAT and other Taxes.
The matter of price hike for petrol and diesel and including it in the GST ambit would be taken up in the upcoming 30th meeting of GST council, said the state finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.
This might have been a relief for the transporters, but according to the association there are a few more demands like; the requirement of a quarterly review of the fuel prices and reduction in tax and excise duty which could actually be proved to be a matter of relief not just to the transporters but also the common man.
