Bhubaneswar: The BJD on Sunday took a swipe at the BJP-led government at Centre for the unprecedented hike in diesel price, which has surpassed that of petrol for the first time in Odisha.
Attributing the exceptional hike to the wrong policy of the Centre, Finance minister Sashi Bhusan Behera said either the oil companies were not regulated or the central government had a tacit understanding with them. “With the record hike in the diesel price, that of essential commodities will also go up,” he pointed out.
General secretary of the state BJP Prithviraj Harichandan said the Finance minister should be judicious while making a statement on an important issue. “People of Odisha know the reason as to why there has been a constant rise in the fuel prices. While 13 states have reduced value-added tax (VAT) on the fuel, the Odisha government is yet take a decision in this regard,” he added.
In Odisha, the price of the diesel went up to Rs 80.69 per litre on Sunday as against that of petrol at Rs 80.57 per litre.
Talking to the media, general secretary of Utkal Petroleum Dealers’ Association, Sanjay Lath said for the first time in Odisha, the price of diesel has surpassed that of petrol.
“Usually there is a 10 per cent difference in the price of the petrol and diesel in India. Since last two months, the basic price of the diesel has remained above that of petrol in the international market,” he pointed out.
Explaining the steep hike in the price of diesel, Lath said in other states the VAT on petrol is comparatively higher than that on diesel. But in Odisha, the VAT on petrol and diesel is the same at 26 per cent.
When asked as to how long this trend will continue, he said the consumption of diesel is usually more in the cold countries during the winter as the people use it to keep their house warm. Due to this, the price of the diesel goes up in the international market during this period.
