Naidu lauds Centre's move to slash fuel prices; asks Jagan to cut taxes

Amaravati: TDP national president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday lauded the Central government for providing relief to the people by reducing the prices of petrol, diesel, and cooking gas. Mr. Naidu also welcomed the Centre's instructions to state governments to cut state-level taxes to reduce the burden on the people.

In a tweet, the TDP chief demanded that the Jagan Mohan Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh decrease its state-level taxes on petrol and diesel. Already, Rajasthan, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu governments have reduced their respective taxes on fuel.

Mr. Naidu said the Centre had decreased petrol rates by Rs. 8 per litre and diesel by Rs. 6. Many states responded to the Centre's call. "What wrong have the people of AP committed that the YSRCP regime is not providing any additional relief on its part?" he questioned. The TDP chief said that instead of reducing taxes to provide relief, the AP government was imposing new burdens on the people with its 'Badude Badudu' (slapping taxes) rule. As a result, the prices of essential commodities have touched the sky and the lives of the common public have become miserable under the YSRCP regime, he alleged.

Mr. Naidu asserted that AP had stood no. 1 in the country in development during the Telugu Desam Party's rule. But now under the YSRCP government, AP ranks no. 1 in "petrol Badudu" (high prices of petrol).