Either state or Centre should cut taxes on petro products

With LPG cylinder, petrol & diesel prices sky-rocketing, how difficult has it become to sustain? 

Duties levied on crude oil must be reduced

While LPG cylinder is a lifeline of the households, diesel or petrol is that of roads. Any hike in prices of these three adversely affects the masses, leading to decrease in the level of disposable income of households. Today, India has one of the highest rates of taxes on both petrol and diesel. The duties have been significantly increased by both central and state governments in order to generate additional revenue. As a result, crude oil prices are increasing sharply on day to day basis. The average Indian is still struggling to surface from the economic chaos inflicted by the pandemic. The price hike is an additional blow for both salaried and business class, needless to mention about daily wage earner. With decline in income due to the pandemic and increase in expenditure due to consistent rise in prices has made it difficult for people to make both ends meet. Hike in diesel and petrol prices triggers a chain reaction as with increase in transportation charges, the prices of all commodities will follow the rising trend adding to the misery of common man. Besides there is no price control on foodstuff, clothes and other daily need items. It makes the situation more critical as we can cut down on luxurious items but what about necessities? Thus, in order to protect the interests of masses, duties levied on petrol and diesel must be reduced.

Cinny Malhotra

Paying through the nose

The historic escalation in the prices of domestic LPG cylinder, petrol and diesel has become one of the major public concerns in the country. It has attracted widespread criticism from various quarters along with the main opposition parties. The continuous fuel hike will have a cascading impact on every sector of Indian economy which is still slowly recovering from the Covid-induced lockdown. It will push up the prices of essential commodities such as electricity, basic food needs, goods and public transport facilities and so on. Higher national inflation will put extra burden on the consumers who have faced loss of jobs and livelihood or reduced income amidst the pandemic. Farmers, middle and salaried class, and the marginalised sections of society are the worst-hit. As they have to pay through the nose for fuel and gas, they have started staging street protests. Though the Oil Ministry has justified the increase in fuel prices on the pretext of high volatility of crude oil prices in the international market, it is largely due to high levies. The government is in a bind to cope with the prevailing situation; it is passing through an insoluble dilemma, a ‘dharm sankat’. With a drastic cut in subsidy on fuel and cooking gas, its noble initiative to increase coverage of environment-friendly fuel in kitchens under the PMUY has suffered a serious setback. How can the government evade its social responsibility towards the masses? The central and state governments should strengthen fuel and gas prices mechanism to promote their stance on social-economy. Boosting energy generation through alternative sources like sun, wind, bio-mass and bio-diesel, developing high capacity goods and public transport system, and judicious use of fuel and gas are imperatives for sustainable development.

DS Kang

Fuel on fire, makes dent in pockets

‘Fuel on fire’ was the headline of a news channel. A celebrity once quoted that there are two things certain in life – death and taxes. The governments, both the Centre and State, are translating the quote into reality. They are raising taxes continuously on LPG, petrol and diesel. Even when the crude oil prices are going down in the international market, they are making holes in the pockets of the people. That too during the phase of the pandemic, when many people have lost their jobs or their salaries has been cut because of the recession in the economy. This is the most insensitive and arrogant government since independence. Such a rise in the said items has a cascading effect on other things in the market like food, clothing, labour and transportation, etc. The irony is that the government is buying two specially made airplanes for the President and the PM at a huge price. Also, the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is costing hundreds of crores of taxpayers’ money. The PM participated in the stone laying ceremony which should have been avoided in a secular country like India. No wonder that the country is going to dogs under this dispensation. Unfortunately, the Opposition is also not raising a concerted voice against such brazen policies of this government. God save India.

JS Wadhwa

Government must roll back this hike

During the intensity of coronavirus wave, our economy suffered big contraction. Almost entire trade and industrial activity remained severely paralysed by the pandemic as the lockdowns and stringent protocols had to be imposed to save human lives. Consequent upon such measures, loss of jobs and employment put the livelihood of numerous people out of gear. Central government, in order to provide some relief to the distressed, doled out economic package of 20 lakh crore under ANBA. However, while we were just on the path to recovery after having been riddled by the crisis, government ruthlessly hiked price of LPG cylinder to Rs800, petrol breaching Rs100 per litre mark and surging diesel price. The spike in fuel rates is bound to hit the farmers and SRTOs and thus making the life of average Indian further miserable. Obviously, the whole principle of deregulation and dynamic pricing envisaged that reduction in crude oil prices will proportionately benefit consumers. Now when crude price is half way down, the GOI is profiteering off people’s misery by raising excise duty manifolds. Under the prevailing environment, when new cases were reported at many places has increased our worries, sky-rocketing fuel prices is to further aggravate the woes in sustaining livelihood. As such, the government must roll back this hike.

NJ Singh Chatrath

It’s going to have far-reaching effects

The rise in the price of petrol, diesel will directly boost price hike in the prices of essential commodities. The rising fuel and gas prices are affecting the homely budget of especially the middle class families who are struggling for their livelihood survival due to the negative growth of economy throughout the pandemic. Many have lost their jobs. The need of time is to bring petrol, diesel, LPG cylinder under GST keeping in mind ‘One Nation One Tax’. The government of India has pumped funds in shape of financial aid to boost economy to give a push to GDP but the hike in fuel prices, lubricants, essential commodities, etc has specially affected the pocket of every person be it salaried or business class.

Rajat Kumar Mohindru

A gateway for boosting inflation

The price hike’s a gateway for boosting inflation especially of the essential commodities due to the hike in the fuel prices directly affect the mode of transportation which shows inflationary trends. As throughout the world, the pandemic has affected the economy to a large extent, as the items of essential commodities showed sales much then expected where as other businesses showed deflationary trends jolting the employment and increasing unemployment. With this situation no doubt, the PM Modi-led government pumped in financial packages to boost the economy and to bring the same once again on track to give a push to GDP. But, the government hiked the prices of LPG cylinder time to time and brought the subsidy on the cylinder to its lowest amount. With the increase of price of LPG cylinder and essential commodities, the household budget has increased proportionately rather than increase in Income. The government should review the prices of petrol, diesel so that inflation in coming days can be tamed.

Simmi Mohindru

Jolts on the bounce for masses

It has really become very hard for common middle class people and daily wagers to make ends meet amid soaring prices for things of daily utilities, particularly gas, petrol, diesel, ration items and general commodities. The concerned departments should come forward with positive solutions for such unnecessary enhances. The pandemic has already uprooted the common man, and in this harsh period regular blows can throw out the unduly sufferers out of the rings of life. Poverty-ridden persons can reach periods of starvation, frustration and can lead towards the broken roads of committing crimes or suicides. Necessary curbs should be made on essential things while decisions for price-hikes are taken so that jolt after jolt may not be accorded to the smooth-going human existence.

Harpreet Singh

Too much to handle for a common man

Petrol prices are getting dearer everyday and it is a matter of deep concern. Petrol and diesel are an indispensable part of our lives. How can a common man afford the petrol prices which are touching Rs92 per litre in the city? The Covid has already devastated everything and now there is one more affliction encountering people ie the high fuel and gas prices. The government is the only hope for the common man of the nation who can reduce the prices of these essential commodities. The affluent people are the ones who are living their lives to the fullest since they have pools of money. However, a common man has numerous responsibilities and it is so hard for him to survive in the present scenario when the prices of essential commodities are touching the sky. The government should make some strategy to reduce the prices of commodities for the betterment of common people.

Saahil Hans

How shall the stove keep burning?

Amid a pandemic, consistent hiking of petrol and diesel and LPG are sky rocketing and only adding worries for the residents when thousands of people are jobless and finding very difficult with salary cuts, the Centre and State are increasing taxes charged on petrol, diesel and cooking gas. I think government is trying to recover their loss caused by closure of toll plazas by increasing the prices of oil and gas but they are least bothered about the people how they will manage in this time of pandemic. Instead of helping, they are becoming a source of tension. How shall the stove keep burning in the households? The government should do something for their own countrymen; at least they should give subsidy to underprivileged and help them in hour of crisis. The government can do anything and everything if they want.

Shashi Kiran

QUESTION

In view of the increasing Covid cases in Punjab, what measures should the government take to prevent a second surge in the state?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to jalandhardesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (March 4).