Union minister Nitin Gadkari walks back on proposal to levy extra tax on diesel vehicles

New Delhi, September 12

Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari walked back on his comments made earlier in the day on Tuesday proposing 10 per cent additional GST on diesel vehicles.

Gadkari had said earlier that since pollution is a serious issue and it is causing a health menace too, he will meet the Finance Minister and request her that in the coming time, an additional 10 per cent GST be levied on diesel vehicles because “people do not seem in the mood to listen anytime soon.”

The Minister later clarified that “there is no such proposal currently under active consideration by the government.”

“There is an urgent need to clarify media reports suggesting an additional 10% GST on the sale of diesel vehicles. It is essential to clarify that there is no such proposal currently under active consideration by the government.

“In line with our commitments to achieve Carbon Net Zero by 2070 and to reduce air pollution levels caused by hazardous fuels like diesel, as well as the rapid growth in automobile sales, it is imperative to actively embrace cleaner and greener alternative fuels. These fuels should be import substitutes, cost-effective, indigenous, and pollution-free”, Gadkari said in a post on ‘X’, formerly Twitter.