Opp Calls BJP 'Insensitive Govt' as Petrol Prices Hiked by Rs 1, Diesel By 36 Paise in Goa From Sat

Panaji: The Opposition came down heavily on the BJP government for the hike in fuel prices in Goa from Saturday. Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Yuri Alemao called it the act of an 'insensitive government" and said the hike must be withdrawn immediately. 

The Goa government announced a hike in Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel with effect from Saturday, which will raise the price of petrol by Re 1 and diesel by 36 paise, an official said. The notification on this hike was issued on Friday by under secretary (finance) of the state government Pranab G Bhat. 

"The rise in VAT means petrol and diesel price will go up by Re 1 and 36 paise, respectively. The current price of petrol in Goa is Rs 95.40 per litre, while it is Rs 87.90 per litre for diesel," the official said. Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Yuri Alemao called it the act of an "insensitive government" and said the hike must be withdrawn immediately.

The Pramod Sawant government must curb wasteful expenditure instead of carrying out such hikes, he said. "The state government wants to break the backbone of the common people. Just recently, they hiked the power tariff and today we have rise in petrol and diesel prices," Alemao said.

Alemao added, “Yeh toh hona hi tha! Loksabha Elections over & insensitive BJP Govt. increases VAT on Fuel. Petrol price hiked by ₹1 per litre & Diesel by 35 paise per litre. Roll back hike immediately.@goacm @DrPramodPSawant must stop wasteful expenditure on events & adopt austerity measures.”

 In a post on X, Goa Aam Aadmi Pary chief Amit Palekar said, "To fuel the ever rising need of corruption of @BJP4Goa led by CM @DrPramodPSawant after electricity price hike now BJP puts hands in the pockets of common again by raising fuel prices. How much more you will make common man suffer?"  (with PTI inputs)