'Fuel costlier in Ram's India than Sita's Nepal & Ravan's Lanka?'; Petroleum Min replies

Opposition on Wednesday raised issue of rising fuel prices in Rajya Sabha, posing an interesting question before Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Prhan. 

During Question Hour in Parliament, Samajwi Party MP Vishambhar Pras Nish asked Minister why price of fuel was higher in Ram’s India, compared to Sita’s Nepal and Ravana's Sri Lanka? To this, Prhan responded saying that fuel prices cant be compared between countries due to its varied consumption rate. 

Minister furr quoted price of kerosene in India, which is ₹32 per litre whereas it is ₹59 per litre in Nepal and ₹57 per litre in Lanka, as it is a mass-consumption commodity re.

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Discussing issue furr, Congress MP KC Venugopal pointed out that government has increased excise duty on petrol and diesel, which has led to a spike in prices. Responding to claim, Prhan said retail pump rates are governed by international prices as India is 85% dependent on imports for meeting its need.

"When international price of crude oil is higher, we have to increase prices and when international price is lower, we have to decrease prices here too. This is a market mechanism which is followed by oil marketing companies. We have given freedom to m," he said.

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Fuel prices record all-time high

Opposition questions came after a record high in fuel prices was witnessed this week, especially in four top metros, where petrol cost more than ₹85 a litre. Petrol prices have seen an increase by ₹6 per litre in three months in three cities, while Mumbai has seen a spike in diesel prices.

Both central and state governments rely heavily on collections from taxes on se products for meeting ir developmental and welfare priorities, Minister said. 

"y need some resources... (and) this (taxing petrol and diesel) has been a proven and substantial route by all governments, wher state governments or central government," he ded.

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current rally in fuel prices is because crude oil prices have touched $61 per barrel mark for first time in more than a year. Taxes make up for over 61% of retail petrol price while y constitute more than 56% of diesel pump rates. 

While central government has raised excise duty, states too have raised value-ded tax (VAT), minister said. "So, both states and central government are raising taxes according to ir developmental needs."

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