NEW DELHI: Union petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday said the government chose to cut excise duties on petrol and diesel to shield consumers from surging global energy prices amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. He said the move, reducing petrol duty to Rs 3 per litre from Rs 13 and diesel to zero from Rs 10, was taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of a conscious decision to absorb the financial burden rather than pass it on to citizens.The fuel minister said that the decision was taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an effort “to safeguard the Indian citizen” by taking a “hit on its own finances”.“The Modi Government had two choices- either increase prices drastically for citizens of Bharat as all other nations have done or bear the brunt on its finances so that Indian citizen is insulated from international volatility,” he said in a post on X.
“Hon’ble Prime Minister @narendramodi Ji, in keeping with his Government’s commitment of last 4 years since the conflict in Russia-Ukraine started, decided to take a hit on its own finances again to safeguard the Indian citizen,” he added.He also credited finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman for taking a “huge hit on it taxation revenues to ensure very high losses of oil companies (approximately 24 Rs/litre for petrol and 30 Rs/litre for diesel)”.“Government has taken a huge hit on it taxation revenues to ensure very high losses of oil companies (approximately 24 Rs/litre for petrol and 30 Rs/litre for diesel) at this time of sky high international prices are reduced. At the same time, export tax has been levied as international prices of petrol and diesel have skyrocketed and any refinery exporting to foreign nations will have to pay export tax. My gratitude to Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi Ji and Hon’ble FM @nsitharaman Ji for this very timely, bold and visionary decision!” he said.He further dismissed lockdown rumours urging people to stay calm and united. “Rumours of a lockdown in India are completely false. Let me state this clearly, there is no such proposal under consideration by the Government of India. In such times, it is important that we remain calm, responsible, and united. Attempts to spread rumours and create panic in such a situation are irresponsible and harmful.”Sitharaman also hailed the move and said: “In view of the West Asia crisis, the central excise duty on petrol and diesel for domestic consumption has been reduced by Rs 10 per litre each. This will provide protection to consumers from rise in prices. Hon. PM @narendramodi has always ensured that citizens are protected from vagaries of supply and costs of essential goods,” she said.“Further, duties have been imposed on exports of Diesel at Rs 21.5 per litre and on ATF at Rs 29.5 per litre. This will ensure adequate availability of these products for domestic consumption. The Parliament has been notified about the same,” she added.
