Tony: Centre and Punjab must rise above politics and work together for peoples welfare Hoshiarpur / Daljeet Ajnoha/May 29

Tony: Centre and Punjab must rise above politics and work together for people’s welfare
Hoshiarpur / Daljeet Ajnoha/May 29
Rising crude oil prices in the international market and a weakening rupee against the dollar have pushed petrol and diesel prices sharply higher in India. The recent rapid increase in fuel prices has driven up freight and production costs, directly hitting the public’s pockets and pushing up the prices of everyday goods, said Dharminder Kumar Tony, state general secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal’s trade wing, in a press statement.
Expressing serious concern over the continuous rise in petrol, diesel and CNG prices, Tony said ordinary people are already struggling under unprecedented inflation and rising household expenses. He urged the central and state governments to share the burden when any petroleum product’s price rises by Rs 5 per litre so that consumers get immediate relief.
Tony suggested a split of the Rs 5 relief: the Centre could cut excise duty by Rs 2.50 per litre while the Punjab government could reduce VAT by Rs 2.50 per litre, which, he said, would provide direct benefit to farmers, transporters, traders, employees and middle-class families severely affected by rising fuel costs.
He warned that increases in oil prices automatically push up the cost of essentials including transport, vegetables, groceries and other daily necessities, making life difficult for common people. He noted that petrol in Punjab is currently around Rs 96–97 per litre and diesel about Rs 86–87 per litre, while CNG prices have also remained high in recent months.
Tony appealed to the Centre to immediately absorb the increased excise duty on petroleum products and provide relief to consumers. He pointed out that the Centre raised excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre in 2025 and that such increases hit ordinary households directly. Tony criticised the policy of not passing on full benefits to consumers when international crude prices fall — while any rise in international prices is promptly transferred to buyers — calling it unfair to the public.
He also urged the Punjab government to stop merely criticising the Centre and take direct steps to relieve the state’s people by reducing VAT on petrol and diesel. The state, he said, should shoulder some of the VAT burden so that fuel prices for consumers come down.
Tony called for both the Centre and Punjab governments to put politics aside and work together in the interest of the people, especially at a time when inflation has severely affected household budgets and purchasing power. He demanded an immediate review of the excise duty and VAT structure on petroleum so that real relief can be provided across the country and particularly in Punjab.