New Delhi, March 24 – The BJP on Tuesday criticized the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh for imposing a ₹5 cess on fuel, calling it "anti-common man." The party also alleged that this measure, along with increased VAT and the additional cess, will extract over ₹1,000 crore annually from the public.
Referring to the Congress' pre-election promises of financial assistance, the BJP also targeted Rahul Gandhi, arguing that his "khatakhat" model of governance has burdened ordinary people with repeated tax hikes.
The party stated that the new cess will directly impact every household struggling with rising costs.
"Before the Assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi came to Himachal with a 'khatakhat, khatakhat' model. But it has turned out to be such a flawed model that the condition of Himachal has deteriorated badly," said BJP MP Anurag Thakur to reporters at the Parliament House complex.
Consumers in Himachal Pradesh will have to pay more for petrol and high-speed diesel as the Assembly on Monday passed a bill to levy a cess of up to ₹5 per liter on these fuels, amid a walkout by the opposition BJP.
The cess is intended to ensure a stable and sustainable revenue source for welfare measures for orphans and widows, according to the "statement of objects and reasons."
The MP from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh claimed that VAT on diesel was increased in phases, along with the imposition of an additional cess, further burdening consumers.
"Within two months of the Congress government coming to power, VAT was increased by ₹3, and then again by ₹3. Altogether, VAT on diesel was raised to ₹10.40, and now an additional ₹5 cess has been imposed, even though VAT hikes were not enough," he said.
The former youth affairs minister stated that this is the first time the government has directly impacted the public's finances.
"This is the 'khatara model' of Rahul Gandhi that has pushed Himachal into a poor and distressed condition. The common people are being forced to pay over ₹1,000 crore," he alleged.
In a series of posts on X, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari claimed that the decision has reminded people of the "dark days" of the UPA government.
"Congress is anti-poor! Congress in Himachal Pradesh reminds us of the dark days of the UPA, when the common man suffered due to frequent increases in petrol and diesel prices. While PM Narendra Modi has ensured price stability despite the global energy crisis, the Congress government in Himachal is increasing petrol prices by ₹5," he said.
"Congress is anti-common man. Rahul Gandhi's Khatakhat model is exposed... What the Himachal Pradesh Congress government is doing is exactly how the UPA ran the government between 2004 and 2014," he alleged in another post.
Another BJP national spokesperson, Shehzad Poonawalla, called the move "peak hypocrisy" by the Congress.
"Congress leaders have been crying hoarse that the PM has increased petrol and diesel prices and inflation. But the Congress has itself imposed a welfare cess, which has resulted in an increase of ₹5 in fuel prices.
"With this, petrol prices will cross ₹100 and diesel will cost over ₹90. The party has not left anything on which it has not increased costs. They had promised to give ₹1,500 to women per month and reduce electricity prices, but after coming to power, they increased diesel prices, bus fares and vehicle entry fees into the city," he said in a post on X.
Demanding an immediate rollback of the cess to provide relief, Thakur told reporters that its impact will be felt across all sectors of the state.
"Be it traders, taxi drivers, truck operators or farmers in Himachal, everyone is facing the burden of cess and VAT. A total increase of ₹15.40 in VAT and taxes, along with an additional ₹5 cess, has been imposed on both petrol and diesel.
"If the Congress government continues to increase VAT and cess on petrol and diesel in this manner, the poor people of Himachal, who have not seen even a single guarantee fulfilled, will continue to lose money from their pockets every month. The impact of inflation will be visible across all sectors," he said while referring to the Congress' poll promises.
Thakur also flagged rising debt and inflation in the state, while citing alleged delays in salary payments to employees, and accused the state government of favouring "friends".
"While the public is facing higher taxes, the state is also burdened with debt. Himachal Pradesh now has a debt of over ₹1,04,000 crore. In the last three years, the Congress has taken loans of around ₹46,000 crore.
It is unfortunate that government employees are not receiving their salaries on time. The situation of the Congress government has become so poor that it even considered imposing a 'toilet tax'," he said.
"There is also a proposal to cut 30 per cent of salaries of officials, and state employees have not yet received their dearness allowance. For the first time, salaries are not being paid on time," the MP said.
"At the same time, friends of the government are being appointed as chairpersons in various corporations and their salaries have been increased from about ₹30,000 to ₹1,20,000, and expensive vehicles are being purchased for them," Thakur claimed.