The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) on Thursday opposed the two-per cent hike in the VAT on petrol and diesel by the BJD Government and said the decision is anti-poor. The party too demanded immediate withdrawal of the increased rate.
“The hike in the VAT on petrol and diesel will affect poor people directly. Prices of essential commodities and bus and truck fairs will too increase which will directly hit the poor people and students in the State,” said PCC vice-president and media in-charge Sarat Rout in a Press release.
He further stated that not a single State after winning the elections in the country has betrayed its people by taking such an anti-people step.
“The real intention of the BJD Government has come to the fore. We will not tolerate the hike and would resort to agitation if the Government fails to withdraw the hike at the earliest,” said Rout.