A day after the Maharashtra government announced reduction in VAT on petrol and diesel, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Monday termed it as “absolute cheating” and said the ruling dispensation in the state should immediately slash the fuel prices without “fooling the people” anymore.

The reduction in price as claimed by the state government is a natural result of the Centre’s decision to cut down excise duty on fuel, Fadnavis said in a series of tweets. The Centre on Saturday reduced the excise duty on petrol and diesel. On Sunday, the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government reduced the Value Added Tax (VAT) on per litre petrol by Rs 2.08 and diesel by Rs 1.44.

A statement issued by the government had said the state exchequer will have to bear an annual loss of Rs 2,500 crore as a result of this decision.

Reacting to the government’s move, Fadnavis tweeted: “What is done by MVA is just an ‘April Fool’ act in the month of May!!! We once again demand that MVA should immediately take decision on reducing fuel prices & give relief to citizens, without fooling the people anymore.”

“Absolute shame! This is NOT any kind of relief by MVA Govt as announced from the official Twitter handle but a natural reduction, based on the reduction in Central Govt taxes,” he said.