Centre must slash custom, excise duty on petro products: Left

New Delhi, June 12 (UNI) The Left parties today made it clear that their governments would reduce sales tax on petrol and diesel only if the Centre slashes the tax component on customs and excise duty.

The leaders of the CPI(M), CPI and Forward Bloc also dismissed suggestions that India Protest Day tomorrow, called by the Left parties and their trade unions, will fizzle out because the Congress-ruled states had already decided to reduce the sales tax on petrol and diesel.

The Left leaders said the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), among other parties, would join the agitation.

The proposed agitation includes a general strike in Kerala, protest demonstrations in UP and road blockades in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Delhi and other parts of the country.

Rallies, processions and public meetings will be part of the protest, the Left leaders told UNI.

While CPI(M) Polit Bureau member M K Pandhe said the Left governments will also reduce the sales tax on fuel prices if the Centre reduced the excise and customs taxes, CPI and Forward Bloc leaders said the Centre first should decide on how much revenue it wants to earn from the petroleum sector.

''The government's attitude is not positive...it must be pressurised on this issue,'' said Mr Pandhe.

When asked about the DMK decision to follow the Maharashtra, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh governments and reduce sales tax on diesel in Tamil Nadu, Mr Pandhe maintained that it did not make much of a difference because it was just a ''token and symbolic gesture''.

CPI leaders A B Bardhan and Shamim Faizi said, ''It is the central government that must take lead in reducing the tax-component.'' MORE UNI KSA LR HS1528