India, May 24 -- Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday demanded that the BJP-led state government reduce VAT on fuel prices to provide relief to people amid soaring petrol and diesel rates due to the ongoing war in West Asia. In a post on X, Gehlot said, "Rajasthan government is benefiting from the rising prices of petrol and diesel, BJP government should provide relief to the common people by reducing its VAT. The steady rise in petrol and diesel prices is putting a heavy burden on the pockets of ordinary people. Rising freight charges have made every daily commodity more expensive, making life difficult for the poor and middle class." He further said, "The direct and biggest loss due to the rising price of diesel is being suffered by our farmers, who provide food, due to which their agricultural costs have increased. When petrol and diesel prices rise, the state government's VAT automatically increases, providing additional revenue for the government. While in opposition, the BJP consistently raised questions about VAT, yet even today, VAT in Rajasthan is much higher than in neighboring states like Haryana and Gujarat. The state government should prioritize profits and prioritize the welfare of the common people." "I demand from Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma that the state government immediately reduce VAT and road cess, so that the people of the state can get some relief from this backbreaking inflation," he added. Meanwhile, the petrol and diesel dealers' association also wrote to the chief minister demanding a reduction in VAT. In a separate post on X, Gehlot alleged that the state government's rural outreach initiative, 'Gram Vikas Chaupal', had turned into an image-building exercise instead of serving as a platform to address villagers' concerns and grassroots issues. In a statement, the Congress leader said the programme could have been an effective forum to gather feedback from villagers and resolve their problems, but claimed it was being used merely to project a positive image of the government. Gehlot alleged that instead of inviting all villagers and listening to their grievances, only BJP workers and beneficiaries of government schemes were being called to these chaupals to avoid criticism....