Nagpur: Slamming the BJP-led Government in State for increasing the tax on petrol and diesel, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Ashok Chavan on Thursday declared that Congress party will stage state-wide protests on October 5 and 6. “Instead of hiking tax on petrol and diesel for robbing people of the State, the BJP Government should cancel crores of rupees advertisements to be published on October 31 marking the first anniversary of Devendra Fadnavis Government and the money should be used for welfare and relief of farmers,” demanded Chavan.
The MPCC President addressed a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan in Mumbai. He strongly opposed hike in taxes on petrol and diesel. He said that the Congress will stage state-wide protests against the decision. “The State Government says that the massive amounts spent on people oriented schemes and shortfall in revenue due to declining prices of petrol and diesel, the taxes have been increased. However, the State Government should come clean and clarify which people-oriented schemes is has initiated. In fact, the BJP Government came to power, funds for social justice schemes have continuously been cut. The Government has rejected the demand for waiver of farm loans. The farmers have not been provided a single relief. Then where the money has gone,” asked Chavan.
“The BJP came to power by promising scrapping of LBT, toll nakas. The party should fulfill its promises without burdening the people. The fuel prices in international markets have come down drastically but the benefits have not been reached to the common people. In fact the State Government and Central Government from time to time increased Excise Duty and earned crores of rupees. The money shoud be spent for relief of ravaged farmers and announce special packages for them,” demanded the MPCC President Ashok Chavan.
