States blamed for high fuel prices, coal, oxygen shortages, Rahul accuses PM
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his federalism is “not cooperative but coercive”. His remarks came a day after Modi flagged higher fuel prices in many opposition-ruled states and urged them to reduce VAT in “national interest” to benefit the common man and work in the spirit of cooperative federalism in this time of global crisis.
Gandhi alleged that the prime minister is abdicating his responsibility by blaming states for the high fuel prices even when the Centre has taken 68 percent of all fuel taxes.
“High Fuel prices – blame states. Coal shortage – blame states. Oxygen shortage – blame states,” he said in a tweet.
High Fuel prices – blame states
Coal shortage – blame states
Oxygen shortage – blame states68% of all fuel taxes are taken by the centre. Yet, the PM abdicates responsibility.
Modi’s Federalism is not cooperative. It’s coercive.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 28, 2022
“68% of all fuel taxes are taken by the Centre. Yet, the PM abdicates responsibility. Modis Federalism is not cooperative. Its coercive,” Gandhi charged.
Modi had raised the issue of many states not adhering to the Centres call for reducing the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel after his government slashed excise duties on them in November last, and called it “injustice” to people living there and also harmful for neighbouring states.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Federal staff and is auto-published from a syndicated feed.)
