Won’t let fuel prices go out of common man’s reach: Pradhan

Won’t let fuel prices go out of common man’s reach: Pradhan

NEW DELHI: The government will not allow petrol and diesel prices to go beyond the reach of the common man and is "working out a holistic solution" to the issue of volatility in the global market, oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Wednesday without outlining any cut-off level.

The minister made it clear that the solution will not involve rolling back any of the oil market reforms, such as deregulating fuel pricing and daily price revisions.

"This government is a pro-reforms government. We will not go back on what we have reformed," he said.

"This government is a pro-reforms government. We will not go back on what we have reformed," he said. On the question whether the options of the Centre cutting excise duty or tapping ONGC were on the table, Pradhan declined to share details saying, "I cannot discuss the solutions being considered… The government is sensitive… our commitment is to the poor and the middle class. We will not allow (fuel) prices to go beyond their reach," he said

 Pradhan deflected the question on excise duty cut by repeating his pitch for bringing fuels under GST (goods and services tax) regime. "There are two taxes on fuels. Excise is imposed by the Centre, and states have their own tax. In the federal structure, the Centre cannot impose its will on states. Again, each state sets its tax regime according to its economic needs. State taxes should be reasonable and responsible. I have been interacting with chief ministers, finance ministers on the issue. My gut feeling is that there is a realisation of the need to bring fuels under GST. It is for the GST Council to decide when," he said.ajayPradhan blamed spurt in crude, refined products and rupee exchange rates for the recent spurt in pump prices. "Oil prices are not constant. So fuel prices cannot be constant. There has to be market pricing if we have to ensure long-term supplies to consumers. ," he said.