In March 2012, after the Assembly elections in Goa which the BJP won with a thumping majority, the petrol prices were slashed by Rs 11 making petrol the cheapest in India by reducing VAT on petrol to 0.01%. The move was welcomed and hailed across Goa by all sections of society. This was a decision taken by the then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for the benefit of the common man. This being a poll promise, the former chief minister never touched the petrol prices till he left for Delhi to take up the post of Defence Minister.
In India, petrol has always been costlier than diesel by over Rs 10. In Delhi the cost of petrol in July 2008 was Rs. 50.62 and that of diesel was Rs 34.86, and in December 2010 petrol was Rs 55.87 and diesel Rs 37.75. As of today the price of petrol in the national capital is Rs 56.49 as against diesel that is Rs 46.01.
Much to the surprise of the common man the present CM Parsekar imposed VAT of 5% on petrol, thus pushing up petrol price by over Rs 2 in December 2014 because he wanted funds to run the administration. As of today the price of petrol in Goa is Rs 51.23 as against Rs 49.60 of diesel.
Reducing VAT on petrol was a poll promise and a populist measure taken by the BJP government especially to benefit the common man and should have never been reversed even if the prices of crude oil fluctuated. In effect, that what was given to the common man, the present CM Laxmikant Parsekar has taken away.
Here arises a question: Can the BJP be trusted after going back on a poll promise? Parsekar also stated that because of closure of mining the government has suffered losses in revenue of around 25 per cent. He could have imposed a cess on mine owners who are the richest business community. He is well aware of the executive, legislative, financial and judicial powers conferred on him as the chief minister of Goa and should have imposed austerity measures on himself and his ministers who are leading a carefree life at the cost of the common man. Needless to mention, the common man and the senior citizen feel the pinch for every litre of petrol they pay and will remember him at the appropriate time.
