Ranchi: Jharkhand Government on Wednesday decided to reduce petrol price by Rs 25 to ease financial pressure on two-wheeler owners. The new price is applicable from January 26.

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren said, "To provide relief to the poor, labourers and middle-class families of the state, Government has decided to a give a subsidy of Rs 25 per liter petrol to two-wheeler owners from January 26." 

Also, Soren announced a slew of schemes to mark two years of the JMM-led coalition government.

#WATCH | To provide relief to the poor, labourers & middle-class families of the state, Govt has decided to a give a subsidy of Rs 25 per liter petrol to two-wheeler owners from January 26: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren pic.twitter.com/JplzDF3SVG

— ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2021

Around 1,400 petrol pumps across Jharkhand remained closed on December 21, demanding reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT).

"We were left with no option but to go on strike as our demand to reduce VAT from current 22 per cent to 17 per cent on petrol and diesel, as well as clearance of outstanding dues of government institutions fell on deaf ears," he told PTI.

Earlier on November 3, 2021, the central government had cut the duty on petrol by Rs 5 per litre and that on diesel by Rs 10 a litre. Following this, many states and union territories cut local sales tax or value-added tax (VAT) to give further relief to consumers.