UPA's Survival On 22nd July? And Aftermath

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BJP slams UPA,says tax on petro products a revenue source</b>

Bangalore (PTI): Criticising the Prime Minister and Finance Minister for the soaring inflation, the BJP slammed the UPA, saying huge tax structure on petroleum products has become a major source of revenue for the Central Government.

BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said here revenue from taxes on petroleum products has gone up from Rs 40,000 crore in 2002 to Rs 5,72,000 crore this year and asked if "all time high revenue collection" was achieved because of this.

"Have petroleum products become a source of revenue?", he asked at a news conference here.

"Instead of rationalising the tax structure (on petroleum products), why is the government using ad valorem cost structure in these hard times to the country", he said, adding, "the Government is still bent upon huge tax structure on petroleum products".

According to him, tax on retail petrol in Delhi is 49 per cent while it's 26 per cent on diesel.

He termed record inflation as a "virtual holocaust and death warrant for aam admi".