A post comparing petrol prices in BJP ruled states with those in non-BJP ruled states is being shared on social media platforms with a claim that petrol prices in BJP ruled states are lower compared to non-BJP ruled states. Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Petrol prices in BJP ruled states are lower compared to non-BJP ruled states.
Fact: While it is true that the BJP-ruled states mentioned in the post are among those states in the country where the price of litre petrol is low, there are few BJP-ruling states where the price of litre petrol is high among all the states in the country. Five (Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Karnataka, Bihar) of the top ten states in the country where the price of litre petrol is high are ruled by the BJP and its allies. Prices of petrol in BJP ruled states, where it is low, are compared to those non-BJP ruling states where the prices of litre petrol are high. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
As per the prices of litre petrol at retail outlets of IOCL outlets across the cities as of 22 February 2021, the cost of litre petrol is highest in Bhopal, capital of a BJP ruled state at ₹ 98.6/Ltr, whereas Jaipur (Rajasthan) and Mumbai (Maharashtra) both non-BJP ruled states stood at second and third position with the cost of litre petrol standing at ₹ 97.10/Ltr and ₹ 97/Ltr. The cost of litre petrol is least at ₹ 84.15/Ltr in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh a BJP ruled state.
While it is true that the BJP-ruled states mentioned in the post are among those states in the country where the price of a litre petrol is low, there are few BJP-ruled states where the price of litre petrol is high among all the states in the country. To be specific, five (Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Karnataka, Bihar) of the top ten states in the country where the price of litre petrol is high are ruled by the BJP and its allies. From this, it is evident that price in BJP ruled states, where they are low, are compared to those non-BJP ruled states where the prices of litre petrol are high.
It is noteworthy to mention that in the recently proposed 2021-22 budget, central government has introduced agriculture and development cess of Rs. 2.5/Ltr on petrol and Rs. 4/Ltr on diesel. Consequent to the imposition of Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess on petrol and diesel, the Basic excise duty (BED) and Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) rates have been reduced proportionately so that consumer does not bear any additional burden. However, this move will affect the states’ revenue as reduced excise duty implies a decrease in states’ share in the central excise duty.
FACTLY has earlier debunked a similar claim related to petrol prices when it was shared on social media, this article can be read here. Few more fact-check articles related to petrol can be read here and here.
In the wake of rising petrol prices in recent times, posts like these are being shared with misleading claims on social medial platforms.
To sum it up, five among top ten states where the price of litre petrol is high are ruled by BJP and its allies.
