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This story is from April 11, 2022

Increase in prices of petrol, diesel is a nationwide issue, Centre will think about it, says Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

Increase in prices of petrol, diesel is a nationwide issue, Centre will think about it, says Bihar CM Nitish Kumar
PATNA: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Monday put the onus on the Centre over the issue of reducing prices of petrol and diesel and said the state government does not have enough resources to announce any immediate relief to the people.
Throwing the ball in the Centre’s court, Nitish also said that high prices of petrol and diesel is a nationwide issue and the Union government would think about it.
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On being asked whether his government would take any initiative to reduce the prices of petrol and diesel in Bihar, the CM said, “We had given some relief to people just a few months back. We do not have enough resources so that we can say something about the issue immediately … It is a nationwide issue.”
“Earlier too, when the prices were increasing too much, the Centre took a decision (on reducing the taxes), and after that, the states were asked to reduce (state taxes). Then, many states took the decision to reduce taxes. We too reduced taxes in Bihar,” Nitish said.
The Bihar government had on November 4, 2021, reduced its value added tax (VAT) rate on petrol and diesel by more than Rs 3 per litre, a day after the Centre slashed excise duty on the products in a bid to provide relief to consumers.
Nitish also said, “Now as the prices (of petrol /diesel) are once again increasing, there will be discussion over the issue in the coming days. Right now, we do not have enough resources so that we can think about reducing taxes every day. Situation is not like that.”

The Bihar CM also said, “Right now, the prices are increasing, whether it will reduce in the coming days or not, it is very difficult to predict. When prices increase, the problems of people increase. But if you ask that we (state government) should do something immediately, there is no such position. Right now, the price rise is an issue. But it might normalize in the coming days.”
Responding to a query about his previous announcement to hold caste-wise enumeration of population in the state, Nitish said he would hold talks with all (parties) in the next few days.
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