Chennai, March 27 -- Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Ezhilan Naganathan on Friday said the government's decision to slash excise duties on petrol and diesel was driven by mounting pressure from opposition parties and the upcoming elections.

Speaking to ANI, Naganathan said, "Under the mounting pressure made by the opposition parties and elections on the cards, PM Modi has made this decision...We welcome it."

Earlier in the day, the government slashed excise duties for petrol and diesel, bringing them down to Rs 3 per litre of petrol and zero for a litre of diesel. Windfall tax on export of diesel has been set at 21.5 rupees/litre.

The reduction comes amid a global energy crisis due to the US-Israel war on Iran and the consequent...