Mumbai, March 27 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday that the reduction in petrol excise duty announced by the Central government will protect consumers from the impact of rising global crude prices amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Welcoming the government's announcement to reduce excise duty on petrol to Rs 3 per litre and exempt diesel from the duty, Fadnavis thanked the Union government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing this "significant benefit" to consumers.
"The burden (caused by the situation in West Asia) will not be passed on to consumers," he said.
Fadnavis appealed to people not to queue up at petrol pumps. "We have enough fuel," he said. He also added that there is no need to hoard domestic gas.
The Centre has declared that there will be no lockdown, Fadnavis said. Those spreading rumours of a nationwide lockdown will face criminal action, he added.