News Analysis India

Tag: Hardeep Puri

  • Petrol prices up by only five per cent as against 50 per cent in developed nations: Hardeep Puri

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday said in the Lok Sabha that in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine war, petrol prices in India have gone up by merely 5 per cent as against over 50 per cent in some of the developed countries.

    Intervening in the short duration discussion in the Upper House on ‘Situation in Ukraine’, the minister rejected the Opposition’s charge that Operation Ganga was ‘operation transport’ and not ‘operation evacuation’.

    The minister, who was one of the special envoys sent to countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate evacuation of Indians from the war-torn nation, said the Indian government did organise buses in Ukraine to transport stranded students to bordering countries in the last stages of Operation Ganga and that cannot be dismissed as ‘operation transport’.

    Referring to rising petrol prices, the minister said, “We are not the only country impacted by the war.”

    The Russia-Ukraine war has affected the entire world, he added.

    Citing figures, the minister said the increase in prices of petrol was very low in India as compared to developed and other developing nations in the aftermath of the war.

    He said petrol prices have gone up by over 50 per cent in countries like the US, the UK, Canada, Germany, and Sri Lanka.

    In case of India the increase worked out to be only 5 per cent, he added.

    Puri also pointed out that the price of natural gas has shot up several times in the international market after the outbreak of the war.

    The minister also refuted the Opposition’s allegation that the advisory issued by the Indian mission to the students before the outbreak of the actual war was not clear and was ambiguous.

    He said the advisory was very clear and advised the Indian students to leave the country and about 4,000 students actually left Ukraine before the outbreak of the war.

    Many students opted to stay back, probably on the advice of the Ukrainian educational institutes that things would become normal, or due to fear of losing a year if they chose to leave, he said.

    Later, under Operation Ganga, 18,000 stranded students were brought home from different nations bordering Ukraine, he said.

    The Indian mission in Ukraine acted proactively by asking the students to get themselves registered before the actual war broke out.

    Operation Ganga, he said, would be ranked among the most successful evacuation operations by any country, anywhere in the world.

  • Congress wanted new Parliament in 2012, says Union Minister Hardeep Puri

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Following Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacking the Union government over its Central Vista project terming it “criminal wastage”, Union urban affairs minister Hardeep Puri on Friday said that Congress’s discourse on Central Vista is “bizarre”. 

    The minister said that it was during the UPA when Congress leaders wrote about the need for a new parliament. Congress wants to distract people from the monumental governance failures in their states by spreading lies, the minister added.

    “Congress’s discourse on Central Vista is bizarre. Cost of Central Vista is about Rs 20,000 crore, over several years. GoI has allocated nearly twice that amount for vaccination! India’s healthcare budget for this year was over Rs 3 lakh crore. We know our priorities,” the minister asserted in a series of tweets. 

    “Moreover, only projects for New Parliament Building & Central Vista Avenue have been awarded at an estimated cost of Rs 862 crore & Rs 477 crore respectively till now. As I said, there are many components in Central Vista project which are spread over several years,” the minister tweeted. 

    “While Central Vista is not new, see Congress’ hypocrisy. Congress & its allies are splurging on a new MLA hostel in Maharashtra & building a new Assembly in Chhattisgarh. If this is fine, what is the problem with Central Vista?” Puri said 

    “During UPA, Congress leaders wrote about the need for a new parliament. The Speaker in 2012 wrote a letter to Urban Development Ministry for the same. And now they have the gall to oppose the same project?,” the minister added. 

    Union minister Gajendra Singh Sekhawat said, “While the world recognises our efforts to stand up to the challenges, the Congress is desperate to  dismiss India’s mammoth efforts.” 

  • CAT team meets Union Minister Hardeep Puri, memorandum submitted regarding income tax and GST

    The CG Chapter delegation of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAT) met Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Jitendra Doshi submitted a memorandum regarding income tax and GST under the leadership. Also submitted memorandum to start air service in Ambikapur and make Raipur airport an international airport. State General Secretary of CAT CG Chapter Jitendra Doshi said that many suggestions were given in the memorandum submitted to Union Minister Puri for income tax and GST. These include 105 percent of the input credit. Rule 21 Suspension / cancellation of GST registration. 50 percent reduction in validity period of e-way bill. Regarding not applying the provisions of e-invoicing to traders with turnover up to Rs 100 crore from January 1, 2021. With respect to providing an opportunity to take the hidden input tax credit. Regarding issuing notice on behalf of the department.

    Suggestion regarding GST annual statement. With regard to the changes in the GST system in April 2020. To provide exemption from interest, penalty and late fees. Problems related to transportation of goods and E-way bill. Regarding surrender of GST registration. Spot audit related provisions. Other Return Related Issues. Other suggestions for improving the provisions of GST. Tips for Relieving Business. Suggestions to reduce GST rate. Suggestions for a business one tax. Ajay Aggarwal, Nilesh Mundra, Kanti Patel and Jayant Mohta, among others, were present in the CAT team during the meeting.