The youth wing of the Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) came out today in demanding the state government reduce the tax on fuel in order to bring down the overall cost, which has reached record levels at the pump of late.
“We condemn the uncaring attitude of the state government to date on this fuel issue that has affected everyone,” KHNAM youth wing President Thomas Passah said today.
Yesterday KHNAM’s lone MLA, Adelbert Nongrum, had also spoken out against the high cost of fuel in Meghalaya.
Like several other detractors, Passah also turned his attention to the recent statement of Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who said that the state’s fuel tax of Rs 31 per litre (subsequently reduced to Rs 29 over the weekend) is earmarked for the education sector.
“Does this mean that the state government is collecting tax from the teachers and students (when they refill their vehicles) to pay teachers?” he questioned.
Instead, the government should reduce the salary and pensions of MLAs, ministers and political appointees, end official travel outside the state and end the use of official vehicles and use the savings to fund education in the state, Passah added.