Amar Ujala | GST: Hardeep Singh Puri said- Central government is ready to bring petrol-diesel in GST, consent of states is necessary

Nov 15,2022

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the Center is ready to bring petrol and diesel under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. However, it is unlikely that the states would agree to such a move, as liquor and energy are revenue generating items for them. The states will have to agree to this move of the Centre, he said.

The Union minister said the Kerala High Court had suggested that the issue be taken up for discussion in the last meeting of the GST Council in Lucknow, but the finance minister of that state did not agree. Your wishes and mine are different as far as GST is concerned, we are in a cooperative federal system. 

Lowest increase in prices in India
Asked whether people can expect some relief in fuel prices, Puri said India has seen the lowest increase in these prices in the last one year. He said, I am surprised by your question. People are asking me in a light hearted way when will the prices go up again. Fuel prices rose 43 percent in North America in a year, but only two percent in India. If there is a bright spot anywhere in the world, it is in India. It's not me, IMF Managing Director Morgan Stanley is saying this. 

There are some countries in our neighbourhood, which have fuel shortage and prices are exorbitant, but we did not have shortage even in remote areas of the country, Puri said. There has been very strong navigation at the Center and at the states level.  
He said, in March 2020, during Kovid, the price of a barrel of oil had come down to $ 19.56, which is now $ 96. Oil prices will remain stable due to the efforts of the central government.