Mulayam Singh holds VAT responsible for price rise in UP

Azamgarh, Apr 1 (UNI) Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today said a phenomenal spurt has been witnessed in the prices of essential commodities after the implementation of Valued Added Tax (TAX) in the state.

VAT is a cause of worry for traders and 'aam aadmi', who are the ones facing its consequences, Mr Singh said while addressing election meetings in Saraimeer and Gopalpur areas of the Azamgarh Parliamentary segment.

''During the erstwhile SP regime, the prices of essential commodities did not witness such a rise...BSP government is anti-people. It has nothing to do with the pain and sufferings of the common man. In VAT regime, the prise rise has gone out of control in the state,'' he added.

Reproaching the Mayawati government, the SP leader further exhorted the traders to support his party in the bypoll for the Azamgarh Lok Sabha seat for getting rid of the 'autocratic' policies of the present government.

UNI XC-ATI AE KP2110