Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla, March 24
Himachal Pradesh BJP president Rajeev Bindal on Tuesday accused the Congress government of pushing up inflation and burdening people with fresh taxes, describing the state budget as “anti-people” and the recent fuel tax hike as a direct blow to households. Addressing a press conference, Dr Bindal said the Congress had come to power in 2022 on the promise of relief and guarantees, but had instead increased the financial burden on the public.
He alleged that the government had first imposed a tax of Rs 10.40 per litre on diesel, which had now risen to Rs 15.40 per litre, calling it a move that would affect farmers, orchardists, labourers, traders and ordinary consumers.
Dr Bindal said the increase in fuel prices would raise transportation costs, bus and taxi fares, freight charges, agricultural and irrigation expenses, and the cost of moving horticultural produce, while also hurting tourism in the hill state.
He claimed that over the past 40 months, the Congress government had collected nearly Rs 4,000 crore from the public through fuel taxes, and said the latest increase could add a further burden of around Rs 2,000 crore.
The BJP leader also accused the state government of increasing the cost of essential services and goods, including electricity, water, ration supplies, stamp duty and cement.
He alleged that stamp duty had risen sharply, cement prices had gone up by about Rs 100 per bag, and ration items had also become more expensive, worsening the financial strain on ordinary families.
Criticising the state budget, Dr Bindal said the total outlay had been reduced to Rs 54,928 crore, which he described as unprecedented and harmful for Himachal Pradesh’s development.
He further alleged that the budget relied heavily on centrally sponsored schemes and lacked an independent vision from the state government.
Dr Bindal also raised objections to the proposed entry tax, saying it could hurt border-area residents, trade and tourism, and warned that higher fuel prices than neighbouring states could encourage illegal trade and fuel smuggling.
Calling the budget unjust to the poor, farmers, employees, unemployed youth and women, he said the BJP would oppose the government’s decisions both inside the Assembly and on the streets.
