UP no to reduce Sales Tax on petro products

Lucknow, Jun 13 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh today ruled out reducing Sales Tax (ST) on petroleum products to give a breather to people following hike in petro prices announced by the central government.

UP Development Council Chairman and Samajwadi Party General Secretary said the state was not in a position for ''financial experiments'' at this stage.

''The Congress-ruled states can afford to reduce ST and other levies on petroleum products as they stand a chance to get compensated by the Congress-led government at the Centre...If the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister assure UP to refund the cost, we can think on those lines,'' he told reporters.

The SP had today organised a state-wide general strike to protest against the petro hike.

Mr Singh alleged by cutting ST and other levies on fuel, UP would lose revenue. ''As we do not get our share of funds, therefore we cannot ourselves reduce the taxes.'' He said it was an open secret that the SP government and the Congress were on a confrontation mode. ''If we complete a project before deadline and seek more funds, we are denied that. Funds should be denied if the project is completed after the deadline,'' he suggested.

The SP leader also slammed AICC chief Sonia Gandhi for criticising the centre for the petro price hike. ''It is like a stage managed wrestling match. How can the PM confront the AICC president, who is a powerful person by all means,'' he wondered.

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