Several BJP leaders on Monday took part in a protest rally in Kolkata against the state government over VAT on petrol and diesel. Many workers believe that TMC will not reduce the prices, and the common people will continue to suffer.
Kunar Hembram, a member of Lok Sabha, Jhargram constituency, BJP says, “I don’t think TMC will reduce the prices. We are pressurizing the state government, but the police are not allowing us to do anything. They are supporting TMC and the common people are suffering because of the high price.” The petrol price in Kolkata is Rs 104.67 per litre and the diesel price is Rs 101.56 per litre.
Several states like Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry, Karnataka, Mizoram, Haryana, Gujarat and Bihar have already reduced the prices. In Delhi, the petrol price is Rs 103.97 per litre, while the diesel price is Rs 86.65 per litre. Similarly, the petrol price in Chennai is Rs 101.40 while the diesel price is 91.43 per litre. The petrol price in Mumbai is Rs 109.98 per litre while the diesel price is Rs 94.14 per litre.
“Many non-BJP ruling state governments have not reduced the VAT on petrol and diesel. If the prices will be reduced then the common people will suffer less. The AAP government was creating a lot of fuss when these prices were not reduced, but now the central government and several states have reduced the prices too. Now, AAP is silent,” says Dr Ashok Bajpai from Uttar Pradesh, BJP told this newspaper.
However, Dharampal Lakra of AAP has said that the cabinet minister would decide whether the prices of petrol and diesel would be reduced. However, sources close to AAP has said that there is a high chance of reducing VAT on petrol and diesel in Delhi soon as the common people are suffering a lot.
The police have also set up a strong security fort. Tensions started as soon as the procession left Muralidhar Sen Lane. BJP state president Sukant Majumder, opposition leader Shuvendu Adhikari, Dilip Ghosh, Mihir Goswami, Debashree Chowdhury, Agnimitra Pal and Jagannath Sarkar were present in the procession.
BJP leaders Shuvendu Adhikari, Dilip Ghosh, Sukant Majumder and Debashree Chowdhury tried to break the barricade. The counter police are also adamant. Later they went to the party office one by one. Before leaving, Shuvendu Adhikari said, they can go on a new campaign with greater strength.
According to police, the BJP has no permission for the procession. Secondly, it is not possible to allow this gathering in any way because of Kovid.
According to the BJP, the Center has reduced tariffs on petroleum products. Since then, several states have reduced their VAT. But West Bengal did not. BJP claims that Mamata Banerjee’s government must reduce VAT in the interest of the people. Today’s program was taken in protest of Karai.
Meanwhile, as the procession was proceeding from the BJP state office in Murlidhar Sen Lane, the party workers’ supporters were obstructed by the police. Police stopped the procession.
MP Debashree Chowdhury said, “The Center has appealed to all the states to reduce VAT after reducing the Center duty. It was understood that the grassroots movement to show people. So the VAT dividend is not being reduced. On the contrary, our voices are trying to resist. ”
Shuvendu Adhikari said, “The so-called Bengali girl is still sleeping. The so-called human sympathizer is the common man’s suffering or his tears and runny nose become one.”