New Delhi, March 24 BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Tuesday criticised the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh for its decision to levy a Rs 5 cess on fuels, alleging that it will be extracting over Rs 1,000 crore annually from the public through increased VAT and an additional cess.
Consumers in Himachal Pradesh will have to pay more for petrol and high-speed diesel as the Assembly passed the VAT amendment bill on Monday, which seeks to levy an "orphan and widow" cess of up to Rs 5 per litre on the two fuels, amidst a walkout by the opposition BJP.
The cess has been levied to ensure a dedicated, stable and sustainable source of revenue for effective implementation and strengthening of welfare measures for orphans and widows, according to the "statement of objects and reasons."
Thakur also criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying his "khatakhat model" of governance has burdened the common people with repeated tax hikes.
"Before the Assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka 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," he said, apparently referring to the Congress' pre-poll promises of financial doles.
"In Himachal Pradesh, the Congress has attacked the pockets of the common man. More than Rs 1,000 crore annually will be taken from the common people through taxes and VAT," the MP from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh told reporters in the Parliament House complex.
Alleging multiple hikes in a short span, the MP from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh said VAT on diesel was increased in phases and an additional cess was imposed, further burdening consumers.
"Within two months of the Congress government coming to power, VAT was increased by Rs 3, then again by Rs 3. Altogether, VAT on diesel was raised to Rs 10.40, and now an additional Rs 5 cess has been imposed when VAT hikes were not enough."
"This may be the first government that has attacked the common man’s pocket not once, but three times," the former youth affairs minister said.
"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 Rs 1,000 crore," he alleged, demanding that the Rs 5 cess on petrol and diesel be rolled back to provide relief.
"Whether it is traders, taxi drivers, truck operators or farmers in Himachal, everyone is facing the burden of cess and VAT. A total increase of Rs 15.40 in VAT and taxes, along with an additional Rs 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.
"We condemn this and demand that the Rs 5 cess imposed on petrol and diesel be withdrawn so that the burden on the people of Himachal Pradesh is reduced," the MP said.
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 Rs 1,04,000 crore. In the last three years, the Congress has taken loans of around Rs 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'.
"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 Rs 30,000 to Rs 1,20,000, and expensive vehicles are being purchased for them," Thakur claimed.