The Left Democratic Front (LDF) on Monday set in motion its plan of action to resist the government’s new tax proposals by presenting a memorandum to Governor P. Sathasivam urging him not to sign the ordinance on the subject.
The LDF leaders led by Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan called on the Governor at the Raj Bhavan to present the memorandum.
Briefing presspersons at the Raj Bhavan gate, Mr. Achuthanandan said the LDF team told the Governor the ordinance would represent the government’s undemocratic and autocratic inclinations. The government should have faced the Assembly with these proposals. The financial crisis being faced by the State was the government’s own making — mismanagement, corruption and nepotism. He said the LDF team also highlighted the unconstitutional nature of the government’s decision to spring hefty hikes in taxes and levies on the citizens after the Budget had been passed, bypassing the State legislature.
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“The Governor assured us that he would examine the issue and call for the government’s response,” he said.
The LDF’s plan is to follow this up with local demonstrations and public meetings, district-level conventions, and then a house-to-house campaign to prepare the ground for a “tax-hike boycott movement.”