Petrol and diesel may soon become cheaper in Punjab and Karnataka, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Himachal Pradesh Rajni Patil said in Shimla on Sunday.
Responding to a question, Patil said the chief ministers of Congress-ruled Punjab and Karnataka have already been directed to reduce value added tax (VAT) on petroleum products.
Patil, accompanied by Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Mukesh Agnihotri, said 2 per cent VAT on petroleum products had been reduced in Himachal Pradesh during the previous Virbhadra Singh led Congress government.
On Monday’s proposed Bharat Bandh against skyrocketing prices of petroleum products, she said it would be observed peacefully in Himachal Pradesh too.
She said the prices of essential commodities have risen steeply during the Modi government period.
Patil said though the crude oil prices was higher during previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government but the rates of petroleum products were less.
However, rates of petroleum products are much higher under the present regime as compared to crude oil prices, she said.
Patil said the public would “teach” BJP a lesson in the coming general elections in 2019.