GUWAHATI, July 6 - The Assam Government has come under strong criticism for its action of increasing VAT on 127 items including essential items.
The All Assam Students� Union (AASU) has strongly opposed the government�s action and decided to launch a statewide demonstration on July 8 in protest against the increase of VAT on 127 items. The AASU said that the government�s decision is surprising as hike of the prices of essential commodities made life miserable for the common people. The BJP-led government came to power with the promise of bringing a change, but the people did not expect such a change, the AASU said. The AASU also demanded that the government should immediately withdraw its decision.
The State unit of the CPM today brought out a procession in the city against the government�s action and called upon all sections of people of the State to build up a mass movement against the anti-people policies of the government.
The CPM said that the BJP-led government, which came to power with the promise of bringing good days to the people of the State, increased the prices of all the essential commodities by increasing VAT. The party pointed out that increase of VAT on petrol and diesel will result in increase of prices of all the essential commodities, while the government even increased VAT on medicines, which will affect all sections of people, the CPM said.
Meanwhile, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) also hit out against the government for increasing VAT on 127 items, including essential items and medicines. The APCC demanded that the government should immediately withdraw its decision.
Our Spl Correspondent from New Delhi adds: The Congress today announced its decision to launch a campaign against Sarbananda Sonowal Government on the issue of hike in taxes. Addressing a press conference in the national capital, acting president of the Assam Pradesh Congress, Ripun Bora attacked the State BJP saying that Sonowal has become a source of misery for the people of Assam, as against the BJP�s election slogan of �Sakalore ananda Sarbananda�.
Reeling out the details of the recent price hike, Bora alleged that the failure of the BJP to mop up the outstanding Rs 10,000 crore from the Centre has forced it to levy the additional taxes on the people of Assam.
This is the same amount, the State Congress was demanding from the Centre when it was in power, he said, daring the BJP government in the State to get the amount released from the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre.
