The State government’s reduction of Rs 2 per litre of tax on fuel has gone down badly with former MLA, Ardent M. Basaiawmoit terming it as “too little, too late”.
Basaiawmoit also described the Rs 29 per litre of tax as an example of an anti-people policy, which has a “direct bearing and severe impact” on the lives of the common man, especially the poor and downtrodden, as well as a deleterious effect on the economy.
“Further, the recent decision of the State government to reduce the fuel tax by two rupees is too little, too late and an eyewash to hoodwink the people,” he added.
Instead of taxing an essential commodity to such a level, the government could save money by doing away with all political appointees, including the chairmen and other senior officials on various boards and corporations as well as political advisers, he opined. Plugging revenue leaks, such as by cracking down against illegal coal mining, would also help, Basaiawmoit stated.
Meanwhile, North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum came out in support of the strikers today by calling for a further reduction in fuel tax and for the government to invite the Meghalaya Joint Action Committee of Commercial Vehicles for talks.
“I’m asking now that the government of the day should be a problem solver and not a problem creator,” Nongrum said during a rally at Motphran today over the fuel price issue.
He said that legislators had forgotten that the government is of the people, by the people and for the people because they have become corrupt, saying that they are “saints inside the Assembly but outside they are engaged in illegal activities”.
