BJP, Cong stage separate protests against VAT hike on fuel

Youth Congress activists stopped from approaching Kejriwal's residence, water cannons used to disperse BJP workers near state Secretariat

A day after increase in value-added tax (VAT) rates on petrol and diesel in Delhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress party on Thursday accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of “cheating and betrayal”, as they staged separate protests in the city. Activists of the Youth Congress tried to march towards Arvind Kejriwal’s residence where they were stopped by a heavy police presence, while water cannons were used to disperse BJP workers near the state secretariat.

Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said the government’s justification to raise the rates did not have any basis as Kejriwal was spending hundreds of crores for “self-glorification”. “A strange comparison is being drawn with other states. Apparently, they are rationalising. But this is return gift to Delhiites by increasing VAT due to which price rise is inevitable. This is nothing short of cheating and betrayal OF the people of Delhi,” he said.

Delhi Congress spokesperson Sharmistha Mukherjee termed the government as one being “full of lies, false promises”.

“Deliberately misleading people of Delhi....a total betrayal of faith! 526cr publicity budget, 1 lac+ salary (to) party workers costing dear (to) ppl of Delhi,” she tweeted.

Petrol prices were on Wednesday increased in the national capital by a steep Rs 2.78 a litre and diesel by Rs 1.83 as the AAP government raised VAT on them.