Mumbai, March 27 – Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday praised the Centre's move to reduce excise duty on petrol and diesel, asserting that it would protect Indian consumers from the fallout of the ongoing Middle East conflict.
The Chief Minister described the government's action as a vital measure to protect against global energy volatility. The Centre has immediately reduced excise duty by Rs 10 per litre on both petrol and diesel.
Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting that while neighbouring countries, including Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, are facing severe shortages, India has maintained stability. "The central government has ensured that the financial burden of rising crude prices will not fall on ordinary citizens," he said.
"While countries like Pakistan and Sri Lanka are facing fuel shortages, India's management has ensured that we have sufficient stocks," he added. The Chief Minister urged citizens not to engage in "panic buying," confirming that refineries are operating at full capacity and that domestic stocks are secure for over 60 days.
Chief Minister Fadnavis issued a stern warning against "rumour-mongers" on social media platforms such as WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter), who have been spreading false claims of a nationwide lockdown or fuel scarcity. He noted that the tax cut is also intended to support oil marketing companies (OMCs), allowing them to absorb high import costs without raising retail prices.
The Chief Minister's statement came after Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri urged citizens not to believe lockdown rumours. He clarified that the government has no intention of imposing a lockdown and expressed concern that spreading rumours during times of global conflict is dangerous for the country, emphasising the importance of maintaining calm.
"The government had two choices: either drastically increase prices for citizens of Bharat, as other nations have done, or bear the financial burden so that the Indian citizen is protected from international volatility. Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji decided to take a financial hit to protect the Indian citizen. The government has taken a significant impact on its taxation revenues to reduce the high losses being faced by oil marketing companies at this time of sky-high international prices," Minister Puri said.
Earlier, Chief Minister Fadnavis addressed the LPG shortage, noting that the hospitality sector has been temporarily affected as the government prioritised domestic supply. He assured farmers that fertilisers and diesel for agricultural use would be monitored to prevent black marketing or hoarding.