Opposition asks Govt to forgo sales tax

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 9 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Assembly Oommen Chandy today demanded the government to forgo the sales tax on petrol and diesel to save the people from the additional financial burden due to the fuel price hike.

He told reporters here that if the state government was ready to forgo the excess sales tax, then it would not be an additional burden for the people.

Alleging that the government's attitude was just the opposite of the Left parties, Mr Chandy said the Left parties had given a call for a strike in the state, whereas the Communist Party of India (Marxist) led government was trying to levy excess tax on the people.

The previous United Democratic Front government had forgone the sales tax when there was a similar hike, Mr Chandy said and added that the Chief Minister himself had said that the issue was not discussed at the Cabinet meeting. The Left parties which are on the streets demanding a rollback of the prices should first pressurise their government to forgo the sales tax, he added.

Mr Chandy also said petrol and diesel prices could be reduced by 87 paise 40 paise respectively if the state government gave up the extra sales tax.

On Monsoon related relief measures, Mr Chandy said that the government had failed in implementing the decisions. The free ration that was promised to the tribals and those living in the coastal areas was yet to be disbursed, he added.

Referring to the government's decision to take back the seven employees of the State Secretariat who were dismissed from service by his government for participating in a strike, he said the UDF government had not dismissed them but they were dismissed on the basis of a law brought by the LDF government. Dismissal of the employees was the only option left before the UDF government for keeping up the spirit of the law that was brought in by the LDF.

When asked about allegations against Public Works Minister P J Joseph in the Maithri Housing project, he said the Congress welcomed the Chief minister's decision to examine the matter in detail.

UNI PN1834