Lucknow, May 22 (IANS): With the Centre slashing the excise duty on petrol and diesel, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Sunday said it was the duty of not only Uttar Pradesh but also of other states to immediately announce a cut in VAT on fuel.

Mayawati said the Central and state governments, while sacrificing their political interest, should pay attention to national problems, which are becoming serious day-by-day, so that life can normalise.

Petrol price has been slashed by Rs 8.69 a litre and that of diesel by Rs 7.05 per litre following the government's decision to cut excise duty on auto fuels, giving relief to consumers battered by high fuel prices that had pushed inflation to a record high.

In a tweet in Hindi, Mayawati said: "After a long time, the centre has given some relief by reducing charges on petrol-diesel to the people who were forced to live a miserable life due to rising inflation, poverty, unemployment and stress. Now, it is the responsibility of Uttar Pradesh and other states to follow the advice of the Centre and immediately reduce VAT (on diesel and petrol)."