There is a saying in Telugu: “Devudu Varamichchina, Poojari Varamivvadu” (God grants boons, but the priest does not pass them on to devotees). Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao is now playing the rule of poojari for the people of Telangana.
Ever since Narendra Modi government came to power in May last, it has substantially reduced prices of diesel and petrol by over Rs 15 per litre in several installments, thanks to fall in global crude oil prices. Though it has increased central excise duty once, it went unnoticed because it had not much impact on the petroleum prices which continued to fall.
However, the TRS government has decided against passing on the benefit to consumers by increasing the Value Added Tax on Diesel and Petrol.
On Thursday, it increased the VAT by Rs 4-5 for every litre of petrol and diesel. This has neutralized the reduction of prices in the last two installments, much to the chagrin of consumers.
Yet, the pro-TRS media has not been writing any stories questioning KCR or his government for its anti-people decision.
