Modi govt collected a whopping Rs 5,79,000 crore from fuel taxes between 2019-2021, reveals RTI query

The Modi government, which promised to curb rising fuel prices in 2014 as one of its poll planks, has collected 5,79,000 crore from taxes levied on petrol and diesel, an RTI query has revealed.

According to the RTI reply which provided month-wise data of tax-collection through Excise Duty, while the Modi government collected Rs 131,786 crore as tax on diesel, it has collected Rs 75,271 crore as tax on petrol between financial years 2019-20 and 2020-21.

The RTI reply reveals that the Modi government has collected Rs 259,560 crore from taxes on diesel and Rs 112,384 crore on petrol in the financial year 2020-21 alone.

Apart from the Excise Duty which is levied by the Central government, Value Added Tax (VAT) is levied by states on diesel and petrol.

As per the latest data, the Central government levies an excise duty of Rs 32.9 per litre on petrol and Rs 31.8 per litre on diesel. These make up 31% and 34% of the current retail prices of petrol and diesel respectively.

Around 54% of the retail price of petrol comprises Central and state taxes.

Though after Diwali many states slashed VAT, due to which petrol and diesel prices came down, it is still much higher in comparison to other countries due to high Excise Duty, believe analysts.

Congress worker and RTI activist Tejpal Singh said that the poor are suffering the most due to high taxation on diesel and petrol.

“Despite higher crude oil prices in the international market, the Congress-led UPA government had given subsidy to ease the burden of the common man. On the contrary, the Modi government is looting people despite low crude oil prices in the international market,” said Singh.

Congress has raised the issue of ‘spine breaking tax collection’ by the Modi government several times.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had termed the huge taxation on diesel and petrol as the ‘tax dacoity’.

“Modi Ji’s government has made big records in giving trouble to the public. Highest unemployment: in Modi government. Government properties are being sold in Modi government. Petrol rates increased the most in a year: in Modi government,” Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi in October this year.

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram took a jibe at the Modi government when petrol prices crossed over 100 per litre. Attacking PM Modi, Chidambaram tweeted in October: “He should also lead by example in celebrating other centenaries: Petrol crossed Rs 100 per litre a few weeks ago and now Diesel has crossed Re 100 per litre.