The Working President of the state Congress Party, Ampareen Lyngdoh, today took a dig at the Meghalaya government and demanded a response on the skyrocketing prices of petrol and diesel in the state.
Today, petrol hit Rs 100.86 per litre in Shillong, while diesel was Rs 93.38.
In East Jaintia Hills, West Jaintia Hills, South West Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, South Garo Hills and West Garo Hills, the price of petrol has gone up to Rs 101 per litre.
This is the fourth straight day of 35 paise per litre increase in petrol and diesel prices.
Speaking to Highland Post before the latest price rise, the East Shillong MLA said, “We cannot understand why the prices of fuel have skyrocketed so much in the state and it looks like there is a surcharge of Rs 16.42 per litre for diesel, which is unimaginable. Who is going to bear the sudden increase in the price of fuel in the state if not the common man and how long will this increase in taxes go on for?”
There have been growing demands in Meghalaya for a further slashing of Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel in the state in order to provide some relief for taxpayers. In February the state government reduced VAT on fuel by Rs 7.4 for petrol and Rs 7.1 for diesel.
Stating that this exorbitant tax on fuel without justification has once again hit the common man and that the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government needs to respond to the matter, Lyngdoh said, “Commodities used by the common man are all under attack. LPG now is Rs 999 per cylinder, there is an increased tariff on electricity while hundreds of villages continue to be under darkness because of no coverage of electricity.”
“A small storm comes and the entire system breakdown and the damage does not get resolved in hours but takes days for this government to sort and resume power supply to all the villages that are affected. There is also scarcity in the supply of drinking and potable water in all major towns and cities of the state with no explanation for all these crises,” she said.
Lyngdoh also described the government as “completely irrational and irresponsible” and guilty of “telling lies to the people” by not fulfilling its promises.
