FM slams Telangana govt for failing to cut fuel tax, curb inflation

HYDERABAD: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday slammed the Telangana state government, along with a few other state governments, for refusing to reduce taxes on fuels which, she said, was adding to inflationary pressures on essential and other commodities in the state.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Thursday on the no-confidence motion moved by Opposition parties against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government, Nirmala Sitharaman listed out a series of measures being taken by the Central government to keep under control prices of essential commodities, such as pulses and vegetables, alongside other goods.

“Inflation data will not be comfortable, but it is a matter of fact that the Opposition (parties) ruled states have not reduced the price of fuel, as a result of which inflation in those states continues to be high,” the finance minister said in her speech.

She name-checked the states of Telangana, Rajasthan, Bihar and Kerala, among the states that “did not do anything to reduce fuel prices” despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi reducing the prices at the Centre twice.