Petrol price protests: can opposition states lead by example?

Most Opposition parties have protested the recent #PetrolPrice hike.
But here’s a simple question: Can they lead by example?
Most people only blame the Central Government whenever petrol or diesel prices rise.

But fuel pricing in India has two layers:
⛽ Central Government #ExciseDuty
⛽ State Government #VAT

Here’s the interesting part: While the Centre largely taxes fuel at a fixed amount, states levy VAT as a percentage!
Which means: If fuel prices rise, many state governments automatically earn more revenue through higher VAT collections.
So technically, when fuel prices increase, States also benefit!

This raises an uncomfortable question:
If Opposition parties are genuinely worried about the common man, why not reduce VAT in the states where they are in power?
In many states, VAT on petrol ranges from ~12% to well above 30%!
That itself creates huge price differences across India.

Instead, what the Opposition Parties usually do:
- Hold press conferences
- Trend hashtags
- Blame the Centre entirely
- Gain political mileage
- Move on

But imagine if even ONE opposition-ruled state had said:
“We are reducing VAT to offset the latest hike fully.”

That would have:
- Provided immediate relief
- Created political pressure
- Forced competing states to react
- Potentially pushed the Centre into action too
That’s what real #federal accountability would look like!

In reality, both the Central and State Governments have become heavily dependent on fuel taxes. No government wants to see its revenue going down! They can cry, but won't act!

Fun Fact: The fuel prices were officially 'deregulated' years ago, but...