Minister of Petroleum Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday backed the taxes on petrol and diesel saying such levies funded government schemes to provide free Covid vaccines, meals and cooking gas to millions amid the pandemic. This statement comes in the backdrop of opposition parties' demand from the Centre to cut taxes on fuel. However, the Centre has justified the taxes saying they are needed to fund many welfare schemes. The money collected from tax also goes into building roads, constructing houses for the poor and other social welfare schemes. Hikes in prices have pushed petrol and diesel rates to record highs across the country.

Source: Mint October 23, 2021 03:46 UTC