Hyderabad Petrol Breach Reaches ₹117/L; BRS Accuses Congress of Excess Fuel Tax

Petrol prices in Hyderabad have surged past ₹117 per litre, sparking a fresh political controversy in Telangana over fuel taxation. The sharp rise has intensified criticism from the opposition Bharatiya Rashtriya Samithi (BRS), which has accused the state government of placing an excessive tax burden on citizens. The issue has now escalated into a political confrontation between the ruling Congress government and the opposition over fuel price relief.

BRS Deputy Floor Leader and former Finance Minister T. Harish Rao has written an open letter to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy demanding an immediate reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel. He stated that Telangana currently levies around 35.2% VAT on petrol and 27% on diesel, which he described as among the highest tax rates in India. Harish Rao argued that such high taxation is a major reason for elevated fuel prices in the state, particularly in Hyderabad.

In his letter, Harish Rao said the continuous rise in fuel prices is severely impacting all sections of society, including low-income households, middle-class families, farmers, transport operators, traders, and salaried employees. He noted that fuel costs directly affect transportation, agriculture, and essential goods, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. The BRS leader said citizens are struggling with inflationary pressure due to rising petrol and diesel prices.

Also Read: 16 Dead In Telangana Heatwave, Government Announces Rs 4 Lakh Ex Gratia

He further alleged that the Congress government had promised relief in fuel prices before coming to power but has failed to act after assuming office. Harish Rao claimed that instead of reducing taxes, the government is benefiting from higher revenue collections driven by increased fuel prices. He estimated that Telangana could be earning nearly ₹2,000 crore in additional annual VAT revenue due to the percentage-based taxation system.

The former minister also pointed out that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, during his earlier role as Congress state president, had criticised the previous BRS government for high fuel taxes and assured reductions if voted to power. Harish Rao alleged that these promises have not been fulfilled. He has also sent a copy of his letter to Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, seeking intervention to ensure the party’s pre-election commitments are honoured.

Meanwhile, petrol prices in Hyderabad have reportedly increased by around ₹7.5 per litre within just 11 days, with current rates at approximately ₹117.15 per litre for petrol and ₹103.82 per litre for diesel. Officials and industry representatives have noted that Hyderabad remains among the costliest metro cities for fuel in India, largely due to Telangana’s taxation structure and additional state-level levies.

Also Read: Telangana Government Requests Rs 5,000 Crore Central Assistance For Development Projects