Himachal Pradesh Consumers will have to pay more for petrol and high-speed diesel in the US as the Assembly on Monday passed the Value Added Tax (VAT) Amendment Bill, which has a provision to impose “orphan and widow” cess of up to Rs 5 per liter on petrol and high-speed diesel, despite opposition BJP’s opposition. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, in the ‘Statement of Objects and Reasons’, said the cess has been imposed to ensure a dedicated, stable and sustainable source of revenue for effective implementation and strengthening of welfare measures for orphans and widows.
BJP opposes Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill 2006
Opposing the Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill 2006, BJP’s Randhir Sharma said that after the imposition of the cess, petrol and diesel will become costlier in the state compared to neighboring states, leading to fuel inflation. He said that there was already apprehension that the prices of petroleum products would increase due to the ongoing war between America and Iran. Opposing the bill, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur also said there was a fear of rise in petroleum prices due to the war in the Gulf and the additional cess imposed by the state would have a negative impact on the people. He also objected to the name of the bill.
Himachal government’s decision will have bad impact on common people
BJP’s Trilok Jamwal said this would affect all sections from truck drivers to the common man, while Satpal Singh Satti (BJP) said it would also increase the prices of cement and other commodities. He said that the government is collecting money in the name of widows, which is not right. Responding to the discussion on the bill, Sukhu said that the central government has imposed cess and also stopped the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDF) and said that BJP should put pressure on the central government to reduce the cess. He termed BJP as anti-state and against the welfare of orphans and widows.