Petroleum minister defends excise duty hike on petrol, diesel
He said that the government is not keeping money in coffers but using it for the welfare of the poor.
New Delhi: Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday defended eight hikes in excise duty on petrol and diesel by the Modi government, saying money is needed for various welfare schemes like MGNREGA and road development.
He also proposed a new draft policy to give preference to locally-made goods and services in Rs 90,000 crore tenders to be issued annually by oil PSUs to give a boost Make-In-India initiative.
“People also need good roads and drinking water. Should we provide this facility by taking loans or through government’s own savings? After the fall in the international price, we have passed on 60 per cent to consumer and used the rest to shore up tax collection,” he said.
He said that the government is not keeping money in coffers but using it for the welfare of the poor.