Punjab Congress today came out in support of fuel pump owners who are on hunger strike since Friday demanding reduction in VAT on petrol and diesel.
Joining the agitation of Petrol Pump Dealers Association of Punjab, CLP leader and Leader of Opposition Charanjit Singh Channi said VAT on petrol and diesel in Punjab should be at par with neighboring states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
"This will generate additional revenue of Rs 300 crore for the state and give much needed relief to the common man," Channi said.
He said VAT on petrol in Punjab is 36.47 per cent against an average of 27 per cent in the neighboring states.
"This has made petrol in Punjab expensive by about Rs 5.96 a litre as compared to Haryana resulting in total shift of petroleum business to the adjoining states which encourages rampant smuggling and pilferage from across the border also," he alleged.
Similarly VAT on diesel in Haryana is 17.22 per cent as compared to 17.67 per cent in Punjab which made the fuel costlier by 20 paise per litre.
Channi said Congress supports the "genuine" demands of the dealers and asks them to intensify their agitation statewide in case the government does not accept them.
Petroleum dealers from several districts are demanding reduction in VAT on diesel and petrol, claiming that higher taxes on fuel were hitting the sales at pumps located near the border areas of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
