New Delhi: Amid the steep rise of fuel prices, the Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameswar Teli while comparing the price of petrol to packaged mineral water said the price of the water is more.
He also said that the taxes on petroleum products funded free COVID-19 vaccines provided by the government to people, the ANI report said.
While interacting with media persons in Assam on Saturday he said that the price of petrol is not high but taxes are imposed and this is also a means of raising resources. He also said that the VAT (value-added tax) on petrol in Assam is the least among other states.
"The price of petrol is not high, there is tax involved in it. The price of (packaged mineral) water is higher than that of fuel. The price of petrol is Rs. 40, the Assam government imposes Rs.28 VAT, the Petroleum Ministry imposes Rs.30, it becomes Rs. 98. But if you drink Himalaya water, then the cost of a bottle is Rs.100. The cost of water is more, not of oil," he was quoted by ANI.
The minister further said that the money for the free vaccines comes from the taxes that the central government collects.
"Fuel prices aren't high but include the tax levied. You must've taken a free vaccine, where will the money come from? You haven't paid the money, this is how it was collected," he said.
On Monday, the Petrol and diesel prices continued their upward trend for the seventh consecutive day. Prices of petrol and diesel rose by ₹ 0.30 (Rs 104.44/litre) and ₹ 0.35 (Rs 93.17/litre) respectively in Delhi. In Mumbai, petrol was priced at ₹ 110.41/litre (up by ₹ 0.29) and diesel costs ₹ 101.03/litre (up by ₹ 0.37).
Taking a dig at the Opposition, the minister said these governments think that if fuel prices stay high, the centre will get the blame. The Union Minister said that the petrol price is the highest in Rajasthan and added that the state government has imposed maximum VAT on petrol.
"Even if we reduce the price, they will not," he said, adding that VAT can be reduced by the state government.