KochI: BJP state secretary M.T. Ramesh said the additional tax and cess imposed on petrol and diesel in the Union Budget will not affect the public significantly.
“The centre’s policy is to reduce fuel consumption in India by encouraging the electric vehicle industry. Additional tax has been imposed foreseeing the upcoming decrease in fuel prices in the international market,” he added.
“At first glance, imposing of additional tax may seem like a burden on the public. But the government has specific objectives in this regard. Economic surveys predict that fuel prices in the international will fall. Hence, I expect fuel prices in the country to decrease even with the additional tax and cess. Moreover, the government is preparing projects to reduce the use of petrol and diesel in the county. That is why the electronic vehicle industry is receiving great encouragements in terms of tax reduction. Owing to these reasons, I expect that the fuel price hike will not affect the public significantly,” M. T. Ramesh told mathrubhumi.com.
Ramesh refuted opinions that Kerala was ignored by the centre in view of the devastating floods of 2018. “Projects after natural calamities are not announced in the Budget. Such schemes will be announced after reports submitted by expert committees,” he said. Ramesh added that Odisha and Bihar which witnessed more devastation than Kerala due to cyclonic storms did not get any projects in the Union Budget.
“The second Narendra Modi government’s policy is to make India the second biggest financial power in the world by 2025. The Union Budget presented by Nirmala Sitharaman is an extensive one aimed at the long term development of India,” he said.
“The Budget also focuses on development of basic infrastructure. The government has announced projects to solve the problems faced by all sections of the society including farmers, women, youth and students,” added Ramesh.
