Oppn protests hike in excise duty on petroleum: Cong, DMK stage walkout

New Delhi, Mar 17 :The issue of hike in excise duties on petrol and diesel figured in the Lok Sabha on the second consecutive day on Tuesday with the Opposition, including Congress and the DMK, staging a walkout protesting against the government.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the government has denied the common man the benefits of the low crude prices.
Dayanidhi Maran of DMK alleged a serious loot was taking place.
Supporting the Congress leader during Zero Hour, Trinamool Congress Saugata Roy said the government has failed to pass on the benefit of low international crude oil prices to the consumers, adding that it has taken miscalculated steps.
Opposition parties had protested on the matter on Monday as well.
The government on Saturday hiked excise duty on petrol and diesel by a steep Rs 3 per litre each to garner additional revenue and did not pass on gains arising from slump in international oil prices.
According to a notification issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, special excise duty on petrol was hiked by Rs 2 to Rs 8 per litre in case of petrol and to Rs 4 a litre from Rs 2 in case of diesel.
Additionally road cess was raised by Re 1 per litre each on petrol and diesel to Rs 10.
Protesting against the hike in excise duty on petrol and diesel, the Congress and DMK members staged a walk-out.
(UNI)