PANAJI
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee on Friday alleged that the recent increase in VAT by the BJP government, which has further increased the price of diesel and petrol, is proof that this government has further pushed Goa into bankruptcy.
GPCC Vice President Sankalp Amonkar pointed out that at a time when people are reeling from the economic impact of the pandemic, instead of giving Goans subsidies on fuel prices, the insensitive government has hiked the VAT leading to steep hike in fuel prices, a move that is likely to contribute to inflation further.
Amonkar addressed the media at Congress House with GPCC Secretary Franky Peres, Kissan Morcha Convenor Abhijit Dessai, Youth Congress General Secretary Archit Naik and Cumbharjua Block Congress President Vishal Volvoikar.
“I want to remind the BJP government that its U-turn specialist former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had promised the Goans that the price of petrol will never be increased beyond Rs 60 per litre. With the current hike in VAT, it is clear that the current BJP in Goa wants to completely demolish Parrikar’s legacy,” Amonkar argued.
In June 2014, the crude oil prices were at 105 dollars per barrel, the retail price was around Rs 72 per litre and the tax component was Rs 24 per litre, 50 per cent of the base price of Rs. 48 per litre.
As against this, in February 2021, the crude oil prices have fallen steeply to 50 dollars per barrel which is a slide of almost 52 per cent. The base price has also come down by 40 per cent to Rs 29 per litre.
“But the insensitive BJP government has hiked the tax levy by 142 per cent with tax component now at Rs 58 per litre. Effectively, the tax levy on base price is now at record 200 per cent,” Amonkar highlighted.
