Hardeep Singh Puri asks Opposition-ruled states to cut taxes on fuels

West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Kerala and Jharkhand haven’t reduced the value-added tax (VAT) on petroleum products in tandem with the excise cuts announced by the Centre in May 2022, leading to higher prices of petrol and diesel in those states, petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Thursday. He was responding to questions raised by the Opposition parties about oil marketing companies (OMCs) not cutting retail fuel prices, even though global crude prices have softened in recent weeks.