Bharat bandh highlights: Govt rules out excise duty cut as petrol, diesel prices hit fresh high

Schools, markets shut in Rajasthan during BharatBandheven as CMRajecalls is Congressdrama Schools and markets remained closed in Rajasthan during an opposition-sponsored Bharat Bandh in protest against rising prices of petrol and diesel. The Congress held demonstrations and rallies in various districts including the state capital where PCC president Sachin Pilot, AICC general secretary Avinash Pande led the protest march. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said that the Congress was engaging in a "drama" by observing a nationwide shutdown over increasing fuel prices, stressing that her government has reduced VAT on petrol and diesel to give relief to people.
The BJP government in Rajasthan, which is to go to polls later this year, reduced value-added tax on diesel and petrol on Sunday.
-PTI

Congress' Bharat Bandh against rising fuel prices evoked a good response in the​ BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh where many business establishments remained shut in major cities including Raipur and buses stayed off roads. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the state, according to police.

– PTI

The 'Bharat Bandh' called by Congress and other opposition parties on Monday against soaring fuel prices failed to evoke response in West Bengal and Tripura, but affected life in BJP-ruled Assam and Arunachal Pradesh besides Bihar and Odisha.

–PTI

Normal life was thrown out​ of gear during the 'Bharat Bandh' in Congress-JDS coalition ruled Karnataka to protest against the rise in prices of petroleum products.

By and large, the bandh was peaceful except for some minor incidents of violence, police said.

–PTI

A cut in taxes on petrol and diesel is ruled out for now as neither the central government nor some states have the appetite to stomach revenue loss from such a move, a top government official said Monday.

While a cut in excise duty that the central government levies will impact fiscal deficit, states like Bihar, Kerala, and Punjab are not in a position to cut sales tax (or VAT), the official, who wished not to be identified, said.

– PTI

A cut in taxes on petrol and diesel is ruled out for now as neither the central government nor some states have the appetite to stomach revenue loss from such a move, a top government official said Monday.

While a cut in excise duty that the central government levies will impact fiscal deficit, states like Bihar, Kerala, and Punjab are not in a position to cut sales tax (or VAT), the official, who wished not to be identified, said.

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has announced a reduction in petrol and diesel price by Rs 2 each in the state.

FLASH:The Centre has ruled out excise cuts on petrol and diesel for now, CNBC TV18 has reported. The development comes even as opposition parties are staging a nationwide shutdown.

In Odisha, train services were disrupted in many places as Congress workers blocked railway tracks to enforce the bandh. At least 10 trains were cancelled. Vehicular movement came to a grinding halt in many places as Congress workers blocked roads. Buses, taxis and auto rickshaws stayed off the roads.

In Bhubaneswar, Congress workers staged a road blockade disrupting movement of vehicles on the national highway. Bandh supporters also locked the ticket counter of the Sun Temple.

Shops, markets, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed. Examinations were cancelled by the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT).

Media reports have suggested that BJP national president Amit Shah will meet Union Minister for petroleum DharmendraPradhan amid the bandh.

Police in Gujarat have said that over 300 Congress functionaries were detained across the state, including state party chief Amit Chavda and Gujarat party in-charge Rajiv Satav from Lal Darwaja area, according to PTI.

Schools were shut in areas including Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Mehsana and there were reports of Congress workers forcing petrol pumps to down shutters in some parts of the state.

Slamming opposition parties for their Bharat Bandh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said this kind of "negative thinking" will obliterate them from the opposition benches soon, PTI has reported.

"This (Bandh) is a manifestation of their (opposition parties) negative thinking. India is rising as the biggest economy in the world under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Welfare schemes are being launched, people are getting benefits. In such a scenario, nothing else can be expected from the desperate and demoralised opposition, which has no leadership or plans or strategy for the future," Adityanath said.