MAMATA GOVT’S 1 RESPITE ON FUEL PRICE
TMC promises tax cut from Feb 22 when PM visits state
The ruling Trinamool Congress has decided to deduct rupee one from the tax charged by the state government on fuel from February 22 midnight.
Addressing a press conference virtually, West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra said that from February 22 midnight, the government will reduce rupee one from the state tax on fuel.
“Price of petrol in Kolkata currently is Rs 91.77 per litre. The TMC government will reduce one rupee to give little respite to the people from the price hike on petroleum products each day,” mentioned Mitra.
The TMC had already taken out a few agitation rallies demanding immediate reduction of the fuel prices by the BJP-led central government and had also planned agitation programmes throughout the state during the PM's visit at Hooghly district.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said on Saturday that rising fuel prices was a vexatious issue and a matter for the Centre and state governments to talk and work out.
Reacting to the Union Finance Ministers comment, West Bengal Finance Minister stated that a discussion can take place after the Centre brings down its taxes.
“The Central government earns rupees 32.90 per litre in taxes from petrol, while the state government gets rupees 18.46 only. For diesel, the central government’s earning is rupees 31.80 per litre as against rupees 12.77 for the state governments. West Bengal government will hold talks with the centre once they start reducing their tax,” added Amit Mitra.
Talking to Free Press Journal, senior CPI (M) leader and politburo member Sujan Chakraborty said that it is only a poll tactic of the ruling Trinamool Congress.
Amidst chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Khela Hobe’, the team NaMo along with newly defected Tollywood actor Hiran Chatterjee campaigned for Narendra Modi in the northern part of the city.
BJP Delhi spokesperson Tajendra Pal Singh Bagga said that the people of Kolkata in large numbers have gathered much ahead of time at Shyambazar crossing in North Kolkata and also that ignoring the call of the ruling Trinamool Congress, all chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’.
“From Shyambazar till ancestral house of Swami Vivekananda, people gathered in large numbers despite being Sunday. We just promoted our ‘Run for Modi’ campaign on social media. Looking at the vibes of the people we can say that the BJP will mark victory in more than 200 seats. The TMC says that BJP cannot do anything in Kolkata, but the people chants of Jai Shri Ram will soon prove TMC wrong,” mentioned Bagga taking part in the campaign in Kolkata.