A Congress MLA in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday demanded roll back of the State government’s decision to raise Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol.
“The Chief Minister (Shivraj Singh Chouhan) is spending billions on his branding and festivals in the State. And now …. the State has imposed taxes on the people,” said Ajay Singh, MLA, and former Leader of Opposition, in a statement.
“Hence the State should immediately roll back its decision to increase VAT on petrol,” he said.
The State government has increased VAT on petrol by Re 1 since Tuesday midnight.
The MLA also alleged that Mr Chouhan was spending billions on private agencies for his image make-over and asked the government to stop such injudicious expenditure.
Mr Singh further alleged that the economic condition of the State had gone worse and the Centre was not providing the State’s due as well as assistance for giving relief to farmers, because of which development works had been stalled.
He alleged that though the Centre had given assistance to many States, it had “not given a single paisa” to Madhya Pradesh.
The Chief Minister who normally remains vocal on such issues was totally silent because of political compulsions, he said.
“It has amply made clear that prior to 2014, Mr Chouhan was shedding crocodile tears on such issues,” Mr Singh remarked.
He sought a white paper on assistance to the State during the UPA rule and in the last one year of the NDA.
Mr Singh said that instead of realising money from the people, the State government should curb corruption and stop celebrating festivals using money from the public exchequer. -- PTI
