Petrol prices have started to fall, will continue dropping: Pradhan

Gandhinagar: After drawing nationwide criticism for surge in fuel prices, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday remarked that the petrol prices have started to fall and would continue to go down further.

Talking to the reporters on the sidelines of an official function here, he said, "Petrol prices have fallen by a few paise in the last two days... the prices will fall further."

He held the recent hurricanes Irma and Harvey in the US responsible for the hike in fuel prices in the recent times.

According to stats produced by the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell, operated by the Oil Ministry, prices have fall by 10 paisa between September 21 and September 23.

Also Read: Senior journalist KJ Singh found dead with mother in Mohali

Pradhan also pointed out that he has been batting for inclusion of petroleum products under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime as it would be highly beneficial for the people. He claimed that the Centre has already appealed the GST Council to consider implementing the new taxation regime in the petroleum sector.

"We have appealed to the GST Council to implement GST on petroleum products, which would ensure interests of the people. This way, the interests of the state and central government will also be secured," he said.

Pradhan also stressed on the need for the state to have a balanced model, so that taxes can be procured without the people being affected by it.

According to the highly placed sources, the matter is also likely to be discussed at the National Executive meet of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), scheduled to begin on September 25.