IMPHAL, June 28 � In a move to reduce the impact of the latest hike in prices of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and diesel on the common man, the Congress-led Secular Progressive Front Government in Manipur has announced to waive off the five per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on Kerosene (SK Oil).
�We will impose zero tax on SK oil in the public interest�, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said on Tuesday. �On LPG, we will take a minimum tax.�
A Cabinet meeting on Monday also decided to exempt the VAT which is five per cent above the cost of kerosene per litre in the interest of the below poverty line (BPL) families.
The government will impose a minimum tax on LPG, Ibobi hinted while replying to a question on price hike. �We will try to lower it further after comparing the neighbouring States such as Assam and Nagaland�, he added.
Ibobi was addressing the media along with visiting permanent member of Congress Working Committee Luizinho Falerio, who is in charge of Manipur at the Congress Bhavan here in presence of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Gaikhangam and other senior leaders here.
Falerio was here to attend the MPCC sponsored political conference held under the theme �Congress view on present situation� at Mapal Kangjeibung on Monday. He said the Right to Food Security Act will be introduced in the country soon in view of the food shortage across the world.
On the recent hike in prices of fuel and LPG, the former Goa Chief Minister said �It�s the impact of global phenomenon.�
Terming that Manipur has been marching ahead with the country in the developmental sector, the former Chief Minister responding to a question on the June 30 tripartite talk in Senapati, said that peace is the pre-requisite for development. �There might be differences even among family members�, he said. �Many issues can be resolved amicably. There must be a crusade to promote peace in the area�.
The Central Government, after announcing the hike in diesel, kerosene and LPG prices on Friday, had asked State Governments to reduce State-level taxes to lower the prices of these commodities. Without delay, West Bengal and Haryana had already reduced prices of some petroleum products since the hike.
Kerala, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi also decreased the prices after reducing VAT and other levies followed by Maharashtra and Meghalaya.
