The State government decision to increase sales tax a few weeks ahead of the presentation of budget will go against the spirit of democracy and Assembly norms, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said on Wednesday.
In a statement here, CPI (M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan said that people were going through difficult times in the wake of increase in prices of petroleum products and the sales tax hike would add to their burden.
Welcoming the exemption from value added tax for fertilizers and pesticides, he said that the revision of tax on textile goods and cooking oil should be withdrawn.
MDMK general secretary Vaiko said that at a time when the use of computer was on the rise, the hike in tax for computer goods would severely affect the middle class.
“Chief Minister Jayalalithaa criticised the Central government when it announced revision of tax before the budget. Now she has done the same thing. She has to explain it to the people of Tamil Nadu.”
