Chandigarh – Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal on Tuesday held statewide protest dharnas against the “high” rate of taxes on petrol and diesel in Punjab. The protests were held at the district headquarters in Ludhiana, Tarn Taran, Rupnagar, Mansa, Pathankot, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Ferozepur, Amritsar and other cities with SAD members submitting memoranda to the representatives of administration, demanding lowering of taxes on fuel in order to give relief to consumers.SAD spokesman and former minister Daljit Singh Cheema said protests were led by the members of the core committee of the party and workers in large numbers participated. He said people were being forced to pay through their nose on petrol and diesel because of heavy taxes. Cheema said the Punjab government had imposed 35.14 per cent of taxes on petroland17.34per cent on diesel. “In Chandigarh, the VAT on petrol was 19.76 per cent and similarly, lower rate of VAT is charged on diesel. People in Punjab should be given relief by bringing the rate of taxes on fuel on par with Chandigarh,” he said. Cheema said the Center had asked the state to reduce to VAT on petroleum products but the Congress government in Punjab was not ready to give relief to people. The Akali Dal also sought that state government should give recommendation of bringing petroleum products under the GST regime to the GST council. Nawanshahr

Led by former Punjab minister Sohan Singh Thandal, district unit of SAD, as part of party’s state-wide programme. Earlier, the protesters held a dharna for around two hours outside the DC Complex where the speakers including Banga MLA Dr SK Sukhi, Jarnail Singh Wahid, Nand Lal, Budh Singh Balakipur, Shankar Duggal slammed the Captain government for its failure on various fronts. They maintained that the burden of state tax on petrol and diesel was the highest in Punjab and that the state government needed to waive some part of it in the interest of common man. ADC Ranjit Kaur received the memorandum as DC was on leave.Ferozepur

Addressing the rally former MLA Hari Singh Zira, former MLA Jogibnder Singh Jindu, senior leader of party Vardev Singh Mann and Montu Vohra said that every sector of people had been feeling insecure in the state due to the anti people policies of the congress government. Farmers had been committing suicide and the many young people had been dying with the drugs every day, but it hardly matters for the Captain government. They said that Captain had promised to eradicate the abuse for drugs from the state within 100 days, but after 15 months of the regime of Congress the situation had gone worst Sand Mafia still very much active in the state. Jalandhar

The dharna by SAD held outside district administrative complex in Jalandhar, it was demanded that government should request the Central government to include petroleum products under GST. Included that it should be brought under the GST to reduce the unaccounted tax imposed by the Punjab government on petrol – diesel. It was clearly stated in the memorandum that due to the uncontrolled price of these two commodities, a large section of the society which includes financially hit farmers, transport sector and two wheelers, in which a large number of students are involved. Along with selfemployment running auto-rickshaw businessmen are getting badly affected. The government should take initiative to bring the prices down and pursue central government to include petroleum products under GST. Sangrur

Passing through main bazaar, the march reached district administrative complex (DC office) but due to closure of its main gates, the protesters could not enter the complex. In this situation, a deputation of the SAD, led by Dhindsa, submitted a memorandum to Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Tori in his office here. On the occasion, Dhindsa said that Amarinder government had failed on all fronts in the state.

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