Shimla
Targeting the Himachal Pradesh government over the latest increase in fuel prices, BJP leader Chetan Bragta on Tuesday accused the Congress government of imposing successive financial burdens on the people and said the “Sukh Ki Sarkar” had effectively become a “Shulk Ki Sarkar”.
Bragta said the Congress had made several promises before coming to power, but had instead pursued a policy of imposing new charges on the public after forming the government. He alleged that after increasing VAT on fuel twice, the government had now imposed a 60-paise cess each on petrol and diesel.
He said the government was attempting to raise revenue in the name of welfare measures such as the orphan and widow cess. “We had pointed out in the Assembly that any increase in taxes on petroleum products has a wider impact and leads to a rise in the prices of essential commodities,” Bragta said.
According to Bragta, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had earlier told the Assembly that the provision was only being kept in place and would not be implemented. “Like on earlier occasions, that claim has once again proved to be untrue,” he alleged.
Highlighting Himachal Pradesh’s dependence on road transport, Bragta said the state’s difficult terrain and reliance on road-based transportation and supply chains meant that any increase in petrol and diesel prices would have a cascading impact on households, transporters and businesses.
He also referred to recent observations of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, saying the court had cautioned the government to show “wisdom and sensitivity” while imposing financial burdens on citizens while quashing a government order.
Bragta urged the Chief Minister to stop what he described as the government’s “policy of imposing charges” and instead focus on providing relief to the people of the state.
