After Centre, UP, Gujarat, Assam and others slashes fuel price; Kerala not to slash tax on fuels

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following the Centre's announcement that it will reduce excise duty on fuel, several states announced additional cuts in fuel prices. The Uttar Pradesh government has reduced petrol and diesel prices by Rs 12 each. Gujarat, Assam, Tripura, Goa, Karnataka, and Manipur have reduced taxes by Rs 7 each. The government of Bihar decided to slash petrol and diesel prices by Rs 1.30 and Rs 1.90 respectively. However, Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal on Thursday reiterated that the state government will not reduce the tax on fuels. Meanwhile, both Congress and BJP have come up demanding the state government to reduce the taxes.

With the Centre reducing the excise duty on fuel, the price of petrol and diesel in Kerala were reduced by Rs 6.57 and Rs 12.33 respectively. KPCC president K Sudhakaran said that the Congress would organize a strong protest if the tax was not reduced. BJP president K Surendran said the state government should follow the example of the Centre and reduce the taxes.