CPI demands slash in sales tax, duties cut on fuel

Imphal, Jun 12 (UNI) The CPI has demanded a review in the Union Government's move to hike fuel prices and urged the state governament to slash sales taxes and duties imposed on petroleum products.

CPI convenor (Manipur) Dr Badar told newspersons that the steep hike in fuel prices had made its onslaught on the people, when the country was facing an escalation in essential commodities' prices.

With the Centre failing to tackle the rise in inflation, he felt that the fuel price hike would aggravate the situation. The government has raised the prices of petrol by Rs five per litre, diesel by Rs three per litre, and LPG by Rs 50 per cylinder.

While the increase in diesel prices would affect a cascading effect on all-round prices with transports getting dearer, the rise in LPG prices would hit the family budget of common people, Dr Badar said. According to him, the government has ignored the set of alternative proposals suggested by the party over the last three years.

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