The state unit of Congress today asked the Punjab
government to slash VAT on petrol as it did in case of
Aviation Turbine Fuel, bringing it down from 22 to 4 per
cent. The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee also took a
dig at Amritsar BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, saying he was
"so excited about the relief to airlines" that he forgot
that the common man continued to be burdened with the
extra VAT on petrol in the state. In a statement, senior
Congress leaders sought to remind the government that
while slashing the VAT on aviation fuel may benefit a
few airline companies, reducing the VAT on petrol, which
is at 11 per cent in Punjab- the highest in the country,
could provide relief to the public at large. The
Congress leaders said that they were "surprised" that
the Akali-BJP government showed so much concern over
providing relief to airlines but lacked the same kind of
commitment towards the common man's cause.
