Petrol and diesel will be cheaper in Assam by ₹5 each and the 25% COVID-19 cess on liquor will be rolled back from midnight on Friday, Assam Finance Himanta Biswa Sarma announced in the 126-member Assembly.
The government would also be increasing the cash assistance to about 20 lakh eligible families from the current ₹830 to ₹3,000 a month, he said while presenting the vote on account for April-July 20-21 in the Assembly on Friday.
Dr. Sarma presented the last budget of the BJP-led alliance government and the announcement is believed to be with an eye on the Assembly elections scheduled by May.
The Opposition parties have been criticising the government for the “skyrocketing” prices of petrol and diesel, which currently are ₹90.17 and ₹84.82 a litre. The Congress had also been critical of the “meagre monthly amount” of ₹830 under the government’s Arunodoi scheme.
“Petrol and diesel prices in Assam will be the cheapest in the country,” Dr. Sarma said, adding…