LDF to launch stir against tax hike by Chandy govt

Urges people to desist from paying the increase, including the new rates of water charges

Slamming the Congress-led UDF government for a steep hike in taxes and service fees, the CPI(M) in Kerala today threatened to unleash a massive agitation and urged the people to desist from paying the increase, including the new rates of water charges.

Accusing the Oommen Chandy government of "resorting to undemocratic" means to raise additional resources, CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said the present crisis was the result of the gross mismanagement of public finances by the UDF.

Vijayan also hit out at the government for taking the "ordinance route" to raise a huge amount without presenting and debating the proposals in the Assembly.

He said these measures announced yesterday by the government would cast an additional burden of over Rs 4,000 crore on the people. Added to this, the proposals under consideration, this would cross Rs 7,000 crore.

He said the details of the agitation would be worked out collectively by the LDF.