Chandigarh: Punjab BJP general secretary Anil Sarin on Saturday urged the Punjab government to ensure that the recent increase in fuel prices does not impose any additional financial burden on the people of the state. Addressing a press conference, Sarin asked the Punjab government to follow the example of the BJP-led Centre, which he claimed cut fuel taxes by Rs 10 per litre on March 27, 2026, to shield consumers from rising prices.
Demand for State Tax Reduction
Sarin requested Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to reduce state taxes and offset the reported Rs 3-per-litre hike in petrol and diesel prices to prevent hardship for farmers and the public during the sowing season. He claimed that despite global factors such as the Russia-Ukraine war, the Centre kept fuel prices unchanged for over four years till May 14, 2026, while alleging that the AAP-led Punjab government increased state taxes on petrol and diesel after March 2022, burdening consumers by around Rs 3 per litre.
Global Context and Comparisons
Sarin added that due to the prevailing war-like global situation, crude oil prices rose from around 70 dollars per barrel to nearly 120-130 dollars per barrel. He claimed that fuel prices increased by nearly 50% in the United States, 20% in Europe, 60% in Pakistan, and 16% in Bangladesh, while in India the increase was only around 3%. He urged the Punjab government to reduce state taxes on fuel and absorb the additional burden to provide relief to the people.
The BJP leader emphasized that the state government should take immediate steps to ease the financial load on citizens, particularly during the critical sowing season. He reiterated that the Centre has already set an example by reducing its own taxes, and now it is the turn of the state government to follow suit.
