Haryana govt likely to reduce sales tax on petroleum products

Chandigarh, Jun 5 (UNI) The Haryana government is likely to reduce sales tax on petroleum products to offset the burden of hike in fuel prices on the common man.

The government is actively considering to effect the cut following an appeal made by the Congress President Sonia Gandhi to Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states to reduce the sales tax on petroleum products, official sources said.

The Centre had yesterday increased the prices of petrol by Rs five a litre, diesel by Rs three a litre and LPG by Rs 50 per cylinder, to tide over the loss of cash-strapped domestic oil companies, evoking protests from both the Opposition and alliance partners.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his address to the nation yesterday had explained the government's stand on fuel price issue and urged state governments, which collected hefty sales tax on petroleum products, to share the burden by cutting levies on pertroleum products.

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