Jagan wasting money on ads for his media

Lokesh demands CM to reduce fuel rates

23 States reduced petrol, diesel rates but not AP

AP CM only one not reducing burden on people

AMARAVATI (prajaamaravati): TDP National General Secretary Nara Lokesh on Sunday strongly criticised the YSRCP Government for not reducing the petrol and diesel prices even though 23 States along with the Centre have provided this relief to the people already.

Lokesh said Jaganmohan Reddy might be the only Chief Minister across the country who would dare to give multi-crore advertisements to his own media but would not reduce financial burdens on the people when required. On top of it, the CM was living up to his image of 'Collection Reddy' by giving advertisements in his family media that his regime would not reduce the fuel prices.

In a statement here, Lokesh asserted that once again, the Jagan regime got thoroughly defamed by exposing its own 'illogical Tughlaq policies'. Its attempt to make the people believe in its false advertisements have also backfired. The Government made a useless bid to hide facts about reduction of VAT from Rs. 4 to Rs. 2 during the Chandrababu regime. The CM would not be able to make the people believe in his fake claims forever.

Nara Lokesh recalled how Jagan Reddy made false comparisons to the fuel rates in Yanam in the past in order to tarnish the image of the TDP rule. After coming to power, the CM has not reduced VAT even after two and half years. The Government was spreading falsehoods that only Re. 1 cess was being collected. It was a fact that additional VAT was increased to Rs. 2.76 on petrol and to Rs. 3.07 on diesel on February 29, 2020.

Lokesh said that once again on July 20, 2020, the Government issued orders increasing additional VAT to Rs. 4 on petrol and diesel. On September 18, 2020, Re. 2 cess was levied per litre in the name of road development. VAT was imposed even on this road cess. Overall, the AP Government was collecting towards its share over Rs. 30 per litre petrol and Rs. 22 per litre diesel.

Condemning the AP Government's 'indifference', Nara Lokesh said that even the Central Government had announced how AP had collected higher amounts of Rs. 7.59 on petrol and Rs. 5.46 on diesel when compared to last year. Jagan Reddy was collecting the highest taxes on fuels when compared to all other States in the country. Instead of issuing fake advertisements, the Chief Minister should roll back fuel rates immediately without giving any more excuses.

Meanwhile, the TDP leaders deplored that the whole revenue of the State was going to the personal treasury of Tadepalli palace but not to the State exchequer. To run the Government and for his party corruption, the CM was imposing unbearable financial burdens on the people. It would be possible only for Jagan Reddy to boldly tell lies and betray people without any effort to uphold values and ethics in public life.

The TDP demanded the CM to explain why there was a huge difference in fuel rates in AP when compared to other States. The petrol rate in AP right now was Rs. 110.35 as against Rs. 100.58 in Karnataka, Rs. 104 in Orissa, Rs. 105 in Tamil Nadu and Rs. 106 in Kerala. The diesel rate in AP was Rs. 96.44 as against Rs. 85.01 in Karnataka. In a shameless manner, Jagan Reddy was using Coronavirus pandemic as a cover up for his looting and corruption.