Transport minister Nitin Gadkari advocates bringing fuel under GST

With petrol and diesel rates skyrocketing on a daily basis, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkarion Friday advocated bringing fuel under the GST to curb the price hike.

"Petrol and diesel should have been brought under the Goods and Services Tax. I asked officials during a presentation if we bring fuel prices under GST will it benefit the states or not."They said 'yes', they will benefit," Gadkari said at a news conclave here on the four years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. He said, however, the states were wary of losing revenue on account of taxes they collect from fuel prices and liquor.

"Earlier, we were giving subsidy on the import (of fuels). When the rates came down, the subsidy was removed. We are part of a global economy.The price of petrol and diesel are increasing due to rise of their price in international rates."

He said the money that was saved from removing subsidy on fuel allowed the government to give free Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) connections to eight crore families across India.