हिंदी
Chandigarh,February 4 – The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today said the sharp increase in value added tax on petrol and diesel by the Aam Aadmi Party government would adversely affect the common man besides resulting in massive increase in prices of essential commodities.
In a statement here SAD senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia said it was shocking that the same party which had criticised the union budget, asserting it would cause inflation, was increasing taxes even before presenting the state budget in the Vidhan Sabha. “This is condemnable at a time when inflation is at an all time high”,he added.
Mr Majithia also expressed surprise at the AAP government claim that the additional tax had been levied to mop up funds. “This government has already taken a loan of Rs.45,000 crore for this year. It has kept a budget of Rs.800 crore for advertisements alone. How will an additional income of Rs.480 crore from taxes on fuel helps it when it has nothing to show for all the loans taken by it?”, he asked.
Mr Majithia said the increase in fuel prices would also result in smuggling with diesel being cheaper in neighbouring states like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir as well as the union territory of Chandigarh. He said before coming to power, AAP convener, Arvind Kejriwal had promised to make VAT on fuel at par with neighbouring states. “Instead of doing this, the government is increasing state VAT on both petrol and diesel”, he added.
