Cpi Wants Centre, States To Bear Increase In Duty On Petrogoods

The CPI general secretary, A B Bardhan, yesterday demanded that the central and state governments bear the increase in duties and taxes resulting from the recent hike in prices of petroleum products instead of putting a double burden on the people.

Addressing a press conference here, Bardhan said it would be wrong to put an extra burden on the people in the form of excise and customs duties and other levies as a result of the increase in prices of petroleum products.

The CPI was of the view that the united front government had not given full consideration to other options, he added.

He said the CPI did not subscribe to the view that the increase was inevitable. However, had it not been for the persistent opposition from the left parties, the hike would have come much earlier and it would have been even higher, he said.

Bardhan said it would be wrong to put an extra burden on the people in the form of excise and customs duties and other levies as a result of the increase in prices of petroleum products.