Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa tonight criticised the revision in excise duty on petrol and diesel, saying that the hike is not just and unacceptable for people.
"The Central government had on January 1, 2016 also reduced the prices of petrol and diesel for 'namesake' but hiked excise duty. The government's increasing of excise duty on petrol and diesel is not just. It is not acceptable to anyone," she said in a statement.
She said that the BJP-led NDA government had increased the excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 10.77 and Rs 12.07, respectively since November 2014.
While crude prices had fallen to their lowest in 12 years, the benefit had not passed on to the common man, she said, adding that the prices of petrol and diesel in India were "still high".
"Had the BJP-led NDA government not increased the excise duty on petrol and diesel since November 2014, the prices of petrol and diesel would have reduced by Rs 10-12," she said seeking withdrawal of the excise duty levied in the last 13 months.
