PANAJI
Aam Aadmi Party’s candidate for the by-polls in Navelim Zilla Parishad constituency Matilda D’Silva and AAP Women’s Wing member Uma Volvoikar on Tuesday came down heavily upon the BJP government for making life difficult for the common man and especially the women due to the spiralling of prices.
She lamented that while in 2012 the then chief minister late Manohar Parrikar had levied 0% VAT on petrol and diesel and made fuel cheapest in Goa.
“So much so that people from neighbouring districts of Maharashtra and Karnataka used to come to Goa to fill up their vehicle tanks,” recalled Matilda.
She lamented that presently with increased VAT, petrol prices have increased to nearly Rs 90 per litre and opined that very shortly it will cost Rs 100 per litre if the government continues its current policies, adding that diesel prices too will rise.
“With the increase in fuel prices, all other commodities also become expensive as Goa depends on neighbouring states for all its needs including fruits and vegetables, and the transportation cost increases which is then transferred to the consumer,” she said.
To make matters worse for housewives the LPG price has also been increased by over Rs 150 and what was earlier costing Rs 600 is now available for more than Rs 800. “With the increase in LPG price it has now become difficult for women to even cook for their families,” she said.
AAP leader Adv Malissa Simoes pointed out that the price rise is occurring at a time when several Goans have lost their jobs and small businesses are down. “Goans who were working overseas or onboard vessels have been at home for nearly a year now, and they have no source of income and yet have to live with price rise,” said Malissa, demanding that the government immediately roll back the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders.
