Union Govt collecting additional taxes on petrol, alleges Somaiya

Mumbai, June 8 (UNI) Demanding that the Maharashtra government withdraw the sales tax of Rs 3.06 on diesel and Rs 3.38 on petrol immediately, former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kirit Somaiya today accused the Congress-led governments at the Centre and states of 'looting' people by collecting additional taxes through manipulation.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Somaiya said the state government had raised the sales tax by 50 per cent on petrol and diesel in last two years.

The sales tax on petrol was Rs 8.73 and Rs 6.70 on diesel in 2004. Now, this has gone up to Rs 12.11 and Rs 9.76, resulting in the rise in the state's collection of tax revenue from Rs 3,400 crore to Rs 5,100 crore, he added.

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