Price rise: Gohil tells Modi to learn from Maharashtra CM

The Leader of Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly,Shaktisinh Gohil,has asked Chief Minister Narendra Modi to emulate his Maharashtra counterpart...

The Leader of Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly,Shaktisinh Gohil,has asked Chief Minister Narendra Modi to emulate his Maharashtra counterpart,Ashok Chavan,instead of making political statements on the price rise situation. Chavan has announced reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT) on certain commodities in his state with immediate effect to help the poor fight price rise.

Gohil,in a statement on Sunday,demanded that the Government of Gujarat abolish the 25 per cent surcharge on VAT on essential commodities. If the Gujarat government removes VAT on petroleum products,then the price of petrol would come down by Rs 12 per litre,while diesel would cost Rs 10 less per litre, Gohil said. He said commodities in upscale areas of Mumbai were far cheaper than in poor areas of Ahmedabad.

He said there is absolutely no tax on commodities like coriander,chilli and other spices in Maharashtra,while these are taxed at four per cent VAT and a 25 per cent surcharge in Gujarat. Gohil added that in 1973,the BJP had held the then state government responsible for price rise during the Nav Nirman movement and had been instrumental in having the Chimanbhai Patel government grounded on this issue. But now,the BJP is trying to pass the buck to the Centre,he said.

Gohil said the state government has been levying heavy tax on farm inputs. It has also been selling irrigation water to farmers at a high price,which is one of the reasons for farm products being priced high. But in Maharashtra,the government has been providing all possible tax relief and other sops to the farmers,he said.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram