As the spiralling petroleum prices has become a major political issue, the JD(S) – Congress coalition Government in Karnataka led by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to follow Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh to reduce taxes on petrol and diesel. Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Tuesday Chief Minister said he would be talking to officials to cut the tax on petroleum products. This decision followed by Bharath Bandh called by Congress President Rahul Gandhi which politically attacked ruling BJP Government at the Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Kumaraswamy made this statement after he returned from Delhi where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought Central aid to take up rehabilitation and reconstruction of flood ravaged Kodagu in Karnataka.
''I will discuss the pros and cons on how we can bring down the State levies on the motor fuel. Anyway the Union Government has ruled out bringing the central taxes on motor fuel. BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa has also given me the advise to bring down the state taxes. I should respect his feelings even if the Union Government is not responding. Soon I will take a decision,” Kumaraswamy who also holds the Finance Portfolio, said.
Chief Minister said he had met Modi and apprised him of the devastation in Kodagu and coastal districts due to heavy rains, floods and landslides that caused huge losses to the state. ''The Prime Minister has responded to send a central assessment team and the team is arriving tonight. We have asked for a Central grant of Rs 2,000 crore to take up relief measures. Let us see how the centre responds,'' he added.
To a question about banks sending notices to farmers who are unable to return the farm loans despite the State Government announcing loan waiver scheme, he said the Government had already instructed the bank officials not to do so and said the Government was ready to fulfil the repayment assurance to all the banks including PSU and Commercial banks as per the package announced by it.
Meanwhile Karnataka has declared 23 districts out of 30 as drought hit. Revenue Minister RV Deshpande said the State has declared 23 districts as drought hit as per the Central Government assessment parameters. He said ''The Government had already assessed the situation and initiated the preliminary measures since last one month as monsoon remained weak over most parts of the districts in the State for last two weeks. ''Today we discussed about immediate steps to be taken in these drought hit Taluks in 16 Districts.''