Congress, BJP slam Kerala government's stand to not cut taxes on fuel

Opposition leader V D Satheesan also demanded that the state government should use the additional tax revenue it earned from fuel price hike

With the Centre reducing excise duty on fuels, the left front government in Kerala was also facing strong pressure to reduce the taxes.

Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal said that since the state government did not increase the tax on fuels during the last five years, it could not reduce the taxes further. The grim financial situation of the state government also did not allow a decline in taxes, he added.

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The Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front and the BJP demanded the state government to reduce the tax.

The Pinarayi-led government was so far maintaining that once the centre reduced tax the state would consider such moves. Hence the centre's decision to reduce excise duty has put the Pinarayi Vijayan government in a tight spot.

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Opposition leader V D Satheesan of the Congress also demanded that the state government should use the additional tax revenue it earned from fuel price hike for extending financial support to sectors like state transport corporation, auto and taxi service and fishing boat operators who were the worst affected by the fuel price hike.

Meanwhile, the Congress which faced much embarrassment over a road blockade in Kochi the other day as part of a stir against fuel price hike was trying to make political advantage of the centre's decision to reduce excise duty. Congress workers distributed sweets at some part of the state claiming victory of its stirs. Party workers also tendered apology for creating the road blockage in Kochi on Monday.

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