Cong throws ball in court of Left parties, BJP

New Delhi, Jun 10 (UNI) The Congress move to ask the States ruled by it not to levy sales tax on the increased price of petrol has thrown the ball in the court of its allies -- the Left, as well the opposition BJP, both of whom have been agitating in protest against the hike of Rs four in petrol price.

The measure is expected not only to provide relief to the consumers but also ease the financial burden of the Union Government substantially, besides putting the opponents of the price hike on the defensive.

''It is a pro-common man decision. The CPM,BJP and the Samajwadi Party should follow suit,'' AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh said, adding that the CPM, which had advised that the central taxes on petrol should be reduced, should give this advice to its own state governments to reduce taxes.'' ''The Congress has shown the initiative in requesting the States to have a relook (on the tax structure). The Congress-ruled States should take the initiative in reducing their taxes,'' AICC Secretary Tom Vadakkan said, adding ''the ball is in the court of the BJP and Left parties to show their concern for the ''aam admi'' (common man).'' Ever since Petroleum Minister Murli Deora announced a hike of Rs four in the petrol price, the Congress had been impressing upon the Government the need to go in for a partial roll-back of the price hike to address the concerns of the common man, but the government consistently ruled out the possibility of a reduction, citing its compulsions due to the international price of oil.

As a way out of the lingering situation arising out of the hike in fuel prices, the Congress Core Group, consisting of its top brass including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, met last night and decided that in the Congress-ruled States, sales tax will not be levied on the increased price of petrol.

The Congress stand was in line with the suggestion made by the Petroleum Minister that the states should chip in to ease the financial burden of the Government by reducing the taxes levied on petrol.

The Congress-ruled Maharashtra government was quick to take the lead in accepting the Union Minister's suggestion by reducing the petrol price by Re 1 and diesel price by 65 paise, paving the way for other 14 Congress-ruled States to follow suit.

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