Fuel tax hike won’t burden people, says Siddaramaiah

Increase in sales tax on petrol and diesel will not burden the common man, former chief minister and Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah said on Thursday.

“For additional resource mobilisation, a small and marginal increase has been made in petrol and diesel prices. It’s not a big burden (on people),” he told reporters after Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy presented the budget.

Asked if he thought it was a good budget, Siddaramaiah said: “It’s a continuation of the budget already presented in February.” He was referring to the budget he presented as chief minister in the previous Congress government.

The waiver of farmers’ loans worth Rs 34,000 crore was a programme of both parties, Siddaramaiah said. “It was agreed upon and included in the Common Minimum Programme,” he added.