The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) on Wednesday chided Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi Government over increasing prices of essential commodities in the national Capital and its failure to address the issue.
“Price rise is no more an issue in the city as the prices of all items have gone up beyond the reach of the common people, and the AAP Government was least bothered about the plight of the people,” said former Food and Supply Minister Haroon Yusuf.
“Kejriwal had previously stated that Delhiites will witness no hike in petrol and diesel prices and he had said, ‘There was no need to increase tax on petrol and diesel as loss in tax revenue can be recovered by ‘checking corruption’ as higher the tax collection, higher would be corruption’,” Yusuf said.
“Even when oil prices have dropped in the international market, the Delhi Government has increased VAT on both petrol and diesel, twice in the last seven months,” he said.
It may be noted that VAT on petrol was 20 per cent in February 2015, which was raised to 25 per cent in July 2015 and 27 per cent in February 2016 while VAT on diesel was raised from 12.5 per cent to 16.6 per cent and 18.81 per cent respectively, the former Minister said.
Also, the Congress criticised the city Government over increase in prices of vegetable and pulses.