Fuel Price Burden Driven by VAT Hikes Under Jagan Regime: Minister Anitha

Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha criticized the previous YSR Congress Party government, alleging that the heavy taxes imposed during the tenure of former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy was responsible for the high petrol and diesel prices in the state.

Speaking to the media, the minister said the earlier government had introduced multiple cess charges and increased VAT on fuel, placing a major financial burden on the public. She claimed Andhra Pradesh continues to face the impact of those decisions, with fuel prices remaining among the highest in the country.

Anitha said the previous Telugu Desam Party government, led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, had reduced petrol prices by ₹2 per litre in 2019 to protect consumers after fuel prices were increased by the Centre. In contrast, she alleged that the YSRCP government later imposed additional taxes on petrol and diesel, significantly increasing prices between 2019 and 2021 .

According to the minister, the previous administration gradually raised VAT on fuel, eventually fixing it at 31 percent on petrol and 22.5 percent on diesel. She also pointed out that an additional ₹4 per litre VAT and a ₹1 Road Development Cess were introduced in 2020 .

Criticizing the handling of fuel prices during the COVID-19 pandemic, Anitha said several states offered relief to the public by reducing fuel costs, while the Andhra Pradesh government at the time did not provide any such benefit.

Defending the current coalition government, the minister stated that no fresh taxes had been imposed on fuel despite the state’s difficult financial condition. She said the recent rise in petrol and diesel prices was due to international market fluctuations and global geopolitical conditions, not because of any additional taxation by the state government.

Questioning the opposition’s criticism of the present administration, Anitha said the coalition government was working to stabilize Andhra Pradesh’s finances while ensuring that people were not burdened with new taxes.