UP no to cutting sales tax cut

In an apparently tit-for-tat action to hold the Centre responsible for the increase in oil prices, the Uttar Pradesh government ruled out cutting sales tax on petrol and diesel as has been done by some other states to partly offset the increase in petroleum prices.

"We don't have any such intention (to reduce sales tax on petrol and diesel) as the revenue from this tax goes for development works," state Agriculture Minister Ashok Bajpai said.