State govt increases petrol, diesel tax rates
Bengaluru, Jan 4: The Congress-JDS government in Karnataka Friday increased tax rates on petrol and diesel to 32 per cent and 21 per cent respectively, citing adverse impact on the state revenue collection due to continuous fall in the prices of crude oil in international market.
Prior to the revision, the tax rates on petrol and diesel were 28.75 per cent and 17.73 per cent, respectively.
The revised rates for petrol and diesel are Rs 70.84 per litre and Rs 64.66 per litre, respectively.
The revision has been made due to continuous fall in the prices of crude oil in international market from past two-and-a-half months, which has resulted in base price of both fuels plummeting substantially, causing adverse impact onstate's revenue collection, the chief minister's office said in a statement.
Despite the revision, the retail price of petrol and diesel in Karnataka are lower compared to neighbouring states, considering the base price of the fuels as on January 1, 2019,it claimed.
It also said there was additional collection of Rs 1.14 and Rs 1.12 per litre on petrol and diesel, respectively, because of the government increasing the tax rate, from 30 per cent to 32 per cent and from 19 per cent to 21 per cent, respectively, from July 15, 2018.
However, considering the substantial increase in the base price of petrol and diesel, the government had reduced the incidence of tax on these fuels by Rs 2 per litre from September 17 last year to give relief to the consumers.
"Accordingly, the tax rate on petrol and diesel came down from 32 per cent to 28.75 per cent and from 21 per cent to 17.73 per cent, respectively."
With effect from October 5, 2018, the Union government also reduced the central excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 1.5 per litre and also directed Oil Marketing Companies to cut petrol and diesel prices by Rs 1 per litre out of their own margin, the statement added.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
