'GST controversy is just a ploy': Isaac answers question of whether fuel will be cheaper if brought under GST

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM leader and former minister Thomas Isaac has blamed the central government for the rise in fuel prices in the country. "A concession of Rs 1.5 lakh crore was granted in corporate tax three years ago. In addition, Rs 10 lakh crore has been provided to banks so far to write off bad debts incurred by corporates. People are being squeezed to help corporates. The Center has increased petrol tax by 3.5 times and diesel tax by nine times. If this is reduced, today's crisis will end. Petrol and diesel prices will come down to around Rs 60 per litre. The GST controversy is just a ploy to avoid this," he said on Facebook.

"According to the constitution, excise tax is to be shared with the states. When the BJP came to power, the excise duty on petrol and diesel was 87 percent, which was to be shared with the states. But now excise duty is being replaced by road cess and so on. No need to share it. The excise tax to be shared is only 4.25 percent of the central tax", Isaac said in his Facebook post.