Manish Tewari slams Puri over excise duty cut, says 'it's people's money'

Congress MP Manish Tewari criticises the Centre's excise duty cut on fuel, countering Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's claims. Tewari argues it's a return of public tax money and warns of geopolitical risks to India's food security.

Political Clash Over Excise Duty Cut

Congress MP Manish Tewari on Friday criticised the Centre's decision to reduce excise duty on petrol and diesel, particularly challenging Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's statements about the government's efforts to reduce taxes.

Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri earlier defended the move, stating that the government had chosen to "take a hit on its own finances" to shield Indian consumers from rising global energy prices. He noted that crude oil prices had jumped from around $70 per barrel to $122 per barrel in the past month, leading to significant fuel price hikes across many parts of the world.

Responding to remarks by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Tewari said, "I have seen Hardeep Singh Puri ji's statement. The revenue that the government gets also comes from the common man's pocket. It's the people who pay taxes, and that's how the government gets its revenue. So if the government has reduced the excise duty, the government is not giving money from its own pocket."

He further slammed him, adding, "Hardeep Singh Puri's statement is as if he is taking money from his own pocket and giving it. See, people give taxes to the government. So if the government has reduced the excise duty, what is the need to boast about it so much?"

Broader Concerns on Geopolitics and Food Security

Tewari also flagged concerns over the broader geopolitical and economic situation, particularly the ongoing tensions in West Asia. "See the situation in West Asia, even after four weeks of conflict, continues to be extremely tenuous. The Strait of Hormuz remains closed," he said.

Highlighting risks to agriculture and food security, the Congress leader said, "The Kharif sowing season is about to start. India imports 49% of its fertilisers, especially nitrogen-based fertilisers, from the Persian Gulf region. So it is not only crude oil and LNG, but it is also India's food security."

He further cautioned about the months ahead, stating, "By the time we go into the Rabi season, given the fact that Qatar, which supplies about 17% of the fertiliser to the world, has really cut back on urea output because their LNG facilities have been taken out, this is going to be a very difficult situation."

Tewari added, "Therefore, I do hope the government has some contingency planning in mind."

Details of Duty Cut and Official Assurances

Meanwhile, RJD MP Misa Bharti, reacting to the decision, said, "What benefit will the public get from it, since there is no availability of petrol, diesel, LPG."

The remarks come after the Central government reduced excise duty on petrol to ₹3 per litre and brought it down to zero for diesel, as per a Gazette notification issued under the provisions of the Central Excise Act, 1944. Additionally, a windfall tax of ₹21.5 per litre has been imposed on diesel exports.

The decision follows escalating tensions in West Asia, particularly the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has led to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz--a crucial route that handles nearly one-fifth of the world's crude oil supply. Before the crisis, India sourced around 12-15% of its oil imports through this route.

While the duty cut is expected to ease pressure on oil marketing companies facing losses due to surging crude prices, retail prices of petrol and diesel have remained unchanged so far.

The government has maintained that fuel supplies across the country remain stable. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, in an official statement, assured that "all retail outlets are operating normally across the country" and that there are "adequate stocks of petrol and diesel available at all petrol pumps."

It also urged citizens not to engage in panic buying amid circulating rumours.

Officials added that refineries are functioning at high capacity with sufficient crude inventories, and domestic LPG production has been ramped up to meet demand. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)