CPI-M demands white paper on Kerala's finances

A new tax burden of over Rs.2,000 crore should not be placed on Kerala people and the state government should come out with a white paper on the state's finances, said the CPI-M Thursday.

Addressing reporters here, state CPI-M secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said this is the first time in the history of the state that additional resource are being mobilised through fresh taxes without the nod of the assembly.

"The responsibility for this has to be owned by the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, and his government should come out with a white paper on the state's finances," said Vijayan.

The Kerala government had Wednesday hiked taxes on liquor and tobacco products, and water charges, land registration and stamp duty in a bid to tide over a financial crunch.

"The state Finance Minister K.M. Mani when this government assumed office in 2011 said that his aim was to wipe out the revenue deficit and today through mismanagement he has made a mockery of his statement as the revenue deficit is all set to reach Rs.15,000 crore by the end of this fiscal," said Vijayan.

Vijayan said the party will soon launch a massive protest against this indiscriminate burden, and asked people not to pay the enhanced taxes when these become effective.

Mani said all the protests that the CPI-M has called for since this government assumed office have fallen flat as people know what they are up to.

"Asking people to desist from paying the taxes is an undemocratic method of protest as it stalls the development of the state. Water charges have gone up by just Rs. two and it's not going to affect people who consume less than 10 kilolitres of water per month," said Mani.