TRIVANDRUM: Congress party-led opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) members staged a walkout in the Kerala Assembly protesting the government’s failure to control prices.

They blamed the frequent rise in fuel prices due to increase in hefty federal and state taxes for the surge in commodity transportation costs in Kerala which heavily depends on its neighbours for food security.

The price of a litre petrol here on Monday was a record Rs77.25 and diesel Rs69.62 when the actual cost remained around a third of it.

Finance minister Thomas Isaac rejected the opposition demand to forego the tax windfall from the increased prices and federal levies on which the state’s sales tax and various cesses come proportionately.

It also receives a share of taxes collected by the federal government which insists on the states to bring down its taxes or to bring all petroleum products under the uniform Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.

“If we reduce sales taxes, it would badly affect the state’s resource mobilisation,” Isaac told the Assembly rejecting the opposition demand.

Congress member K Muraleedharan, who demanded the House to adjourn the regular business and discuss the issue, said the communist-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government were protecting black marketeers and hoarders.

He also criticised the finance minister for reducing allocations for market interventions for price stabilisation and reminded him that the previous government led by Congress leader Oommen Chandy used to forego additional tax revenue whenever fuel prices go up.

“Common people are suffering while the state and federal governments are blaming each other for the price rise. This blame game should end.” Food minister P Thilothaman said the government had taken effective steps to contain the prices of essential commodities even though freight charges had soared due to the frequent fuel price hikes and it had paid off.

“There is no price rise in the state. The government could effectively intervene in the public market and stabilise prices of essential commodities,” he said.

“Thirteen essential commodities are being sold under subsidised rates through the state-run Consumerfed Only the prices of rice, sugar and coconut oil had registered some increase, but it was effectively contained and made available to the public at an affordable rate.”