In a relief to the commoners reeling under the impact of spiralling fuel prices, nine BJP-ruled states - Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Karnataka, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand - announced additional cuts in petrol and diesel prices hours after the Centre reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹ 5 and ₹ 10 on the eve of Diwali, according to a report from NDTV.com. The price cuts will come into effect from Thursday when the nation celebrates Diwali.

Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Karnataka and Goa reduced the prices of both petrol and diesel by ₹ 7 per litre in addition to the Centre's relief. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday said that the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol would be reduced by ₹ 2 per litre in the state. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur said his government would also reduce (VAT) on petrol and diesel.

"Following Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji led central govt's decision on reduction of excise duty on petrol & diesel. #Tripura govt has also decided to reduce petrol & diesel cost by ₹ 7 from tomorrow," Biplab Deb, the Chief Minister of Tripura, tweeted on Wednesday.

States had long urged the Centre to reduce VAT on petrol and diesel. Fuel prices have been climbing over the last few months. Petrol prices in some states had touched ₹ 120 per litre while diesel has crossed the ₹ 100 per litre-mark in three metros.

The Opposition has been attacking the ruling BJP over rising prices of fuel. On November 1, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted that one should beware of "pickpockets" along with the hashtag "tax extortion".

The price of petrol in Delhi stood at ₹ 110.04 per litre on Wednesday while diesel was being sold at ₹ 98.42 a litre. In Mumbai, petrol was at ₹ 115.85 per litre while diesel was at ₹ 106.62 per litre.

In recent months, crude oil prices have witnessed a global upsurge. Consequently, domestic prices of petrol and diesel skyrocketed in recent weeks. "Today's decision is expected to further spur the overall economic cycle," the Centre said in a statement.