Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday suggested the Odisha government to reduce taxes on fuel to provide relief to the people of the state.
“The Odisha government, which was collecting the annual tax revenue of about Rs 3000 crore from the fuel, is now collecting Rs 7000 crore. Now that the fuel price has gone up in the international market, it is the duty of the state government to bring down the fuel price by reducing the value-added tax (VAT),” he said.
To a question on the recent expulsion of senior BJD leader Damodar Rout from the party by the Chief Minister, Dharmendra said Naveen was never serious about curbing corruption from the outset. “He is the leader who encourages the corrupt elements. Those who had made an attempt to unseat him are now his closest associates and decision-makers,” he added
