Hardeep Singh Puri Highlights Fuel Price Cuts in BJP-ruled States

By A Staff Reporter

Delhi – In response to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's recent comments, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri defended the BJP's approach to economic governance and fuel pricing, pointing out that the party’s states have actively worked to ease the financial burden on citizens by reducing taxes on petrol and diesel. Puri detailed that the Prime Minister has reduced central excise duties on fuel three times over the last few years—first in November 2021, again in May 2022, and most recently this year. These actions, he asserted, contributed to fuel prices dropping by approximately Rs 15 to Rs 17 in states governed by the BJP.

The minister explained that these tax adjustments reflect a larger, systematic approach to governance employed by the BJP, aimed at sustainable development and controlled inflation. He argued that the BJP’s model focuses on economic relief for the public, highlighting how this approach stands in contrast to Congress-led states, where Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel has not been reduced despite central excise cuts. Puri suggested that Congress’s failure to follow suit has kept fuel prices higher in states under its administration, potentially impacting daily living costs for residents in those regions.

“The difference in fuel pricing is not coincidental but the result of our model which prioritizes direct benefits to citizens,” Puri remarked. He urged comparisons between BJP and Congress-ruled states to demonstrate the effectiveness of BJP's policies, framing the debate as one between a people-focused approach and a lack of cohesive planning.

Puri’s comments come amid heightened discourse on fiscal policy and economic relief, positioning the BJP’s strategy as one committed to direct public benefit in contrast with what he describes as the Congress's limited economic initiatives.