Activists of different organisations including the NGOs on Tuesday launched a signature campaign here against the 25 per cent value added tax imposed on petrol and diesel.
More than five thousand people put their signatures during the campaign that was organised at Jaistambh Chowk of the city, the organisers said. According to them, the signature of more than 25 lakh people would be gathered by organising similar campaigns in many other places. If the government does not fulfil the demand, the activists also threatened to take to the street and intensify their agitation state-wide. Rastriya Swabhiman Andolan led by Virendra Pandey, Hamar Sangvari and Chhattisgarh Jan kalayan Sammitee have been regularly demanding abolition of 25 per cent value added tax on petrol and diesel.
They said the petrol and diesel prices have been left with the mercy of the oil companies as a result the prices of such products were on rise regularly. The 25 per cent VAT imposed on it in the state has been higher compared to the VAT imposed by governments in other states, they said. The rise in petrol and diesel prices has been affecting all sections of the people including the students, they claimed. Pandey said if the government does not consider their demand, they will stage a state level protest on February 10. He also threatened to organise rallies of autos and buses.