Aizawl, May 30 :The recent hike in petrol and other fuel products has fuelled public anger in Mizoram, with Opposition parties demanding the Congress government to revoke the increase in local sale taxes on oil not later by June 15.
Youth wings of the three Opposition parties -- Mizo National Front, Mizoram Peoples Party and Zoram Nationalist Party -- in a joint press conference on Saturday, lambasted the Congress government for increasing sales tax on petroleum products exorbitantly.
On Wednesday last, petrol became dearer in Mizoram than Delhi as the Mizoram government hiked prices of petroleum products and lubricants by raising local sales tax rates, a week after Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) increased petrol price by Rs 5 a litre.
One has to shell out Rs 64.70 and Rs 38.30 for a litre of petrol and diesel respectively in Aizawl and other parts of Mizoram while extra premium petrol costs Rs 67.20 a litre and extra premium diesel Rs 40.15 a litre. This resulted in a hike in sales tax, from 18 to 25 per cent on petrol, from 10 to 15 per cent on diesel and 2 to 4 per cent on cooking gas.
''Whereas the Centre has refrained from hiking petrol prices to prevent public anger, it is really unfortunate that the Mizoram Government has hiked fuel prices at extraordinary rates,'' Lalruatkima, president of MNF Youth said. ''The government has to impose or increase taxes from time to time taking into consideration the peoples ability to pay. The recent increase of taxes by the Congress government was exorbitant,'' Lalruatkima said.
The joint opposition wings also ridiculed a meeting of executive committee of the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee on May 25, which included Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, that resolved to ask the government to make downward revision of the oil prices.
''This only shows that the Congress high command does not have trust in the Congress Cabinet. Also that the Cabinet does not look before it leaps,'' the MNF Youth leader said.
''Therefore, we demand the Congress government to roll back the fuel prices before June 15, as it is also the wish of the Congress party executive committee, chaired by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla,'' he said.
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