BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday announced that the fuel prices in the state will be reduced by Rs 2. Karnataka has now joined Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and West Bengal, which have already slashed the fuel prices in recent days.
Kumaraswamy, who is on a tour to Kalaburagi, about 650 km from Bengaluru, said the government will cut the fuel cess by Rs 2. The prices of petrol and diesel have skyrocketed in recent times not only in Karnataka but across the country. As on Monday, a litre of petrol costs Rs 84 and diesel Rs 76.
A nation-wide bandh was held last week in protest of the rising fuel prices by the Opposition parties. Kumaraswamy had then promised to reduce the fuel cess marginally to ensure that the common man is not burdened. Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu has slashed tax on fuel+ by Rs 2.50 and Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee went for a Re 1 cut
In July, Kumaraswamy had made a budgetary announcement to increase taxation on petrol and diesel by 2% each. The BJP has alleged that the state earns Rs 25 on every litre of petrol sold.