The Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM) on Tuesday alleged that the State Government is responsible for the hike in the prices of essential food items in the State. “While 23 States have exempted the value-added tax (VAT) on essential food items, the 5-per cent VAT on such items in a poor State like Odisha reflects the anti-people policy of the State Government,” said Manch State convener Arnada Panigrahi.
Even as the State Government is incurring an exchequer loss of multi-thousand crore of rupees due to corruption in various fields, collection of food tax from wholesale dealers unmasks the actual face of the Government, he added.
“At a time when the All Odisha Traders’ Association (AOTA) has stopped importing essential food items like pulse, wheat and wheat products, the silence of the State Government on this has pushed the poor people towards starvation,” lamented Panigrahi.
The Manch has cautioned that the State Government withdraw the 5 per cent VAT on the food items and save the poor people from the price hike and food shortage, or else, Panigrahi said that the Government would be responsible for any untoward situation in coming days .