States »SoutPosted at: Nov 11 2021 5:18PM

Opposition UDF members in Kerala boycott proceedings of Assembly over fuel price hike

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 11 (UNI) Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) members in Kerala on Thursday boycotted the Assembly proceedings for disallowing adjournment motion by the Speaker, moved by them, on fuel price hike.
Earlier, in a novel protest, the UDF members pedaled bicycles and reached Assembly against the Left government's stand not to cut VAT on diesel and petrol.
Opposition leader VD Satheesan said the Government, which earned Rs 5,000 crore as tax from the fuel price hike for the last five years, should slash VAT on fuel.
Though the Centre had reduced the Excise Duty on fuel, the state government is reluctant to slash the VAT on fuel, he added.
Pointing out that frequent price hike of fuel put additional burden on common people, Mr Satheesan said the previous Congress Government led by Oommen Chandy waived additional tax on fuel sales seven times avoiding additional burden on common people.
Only Rs 493 crore was the additional revenue from tax on fuel during the Ommen Chandy's tenure compared to Rs 5,000 crore during the last five years, he added.
Congress member K Babu who sought the leave of the House to move the adjournment motion on the matter, said the Left Government was imposing tax terrorism on common people facing financial crisis due to COVID pandemic.
The Opposition staged a walkout from the house during last week also in protest against the price hike of fuel in the state.
However, Finance Minister KN Balagopal reiterated the government's stand on the issue stating that no VAT reduction is possible in the given situation.
Blaming the previous UPA Government at the Centre for handing over the control of fuel price to the oil companies, he said the previous Oommen Chandy Government raised fuel tax 13 times in Kerala.
As Speaker MB Rajesh denied permission to move the adjournment motion, the Opposition boycotted the proceedings and staged a sit-in dharna in front of the House.
UNI DS CS 1717