Chandigarh: Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira in a statement released here today, he castigated Capt. Amarinder Singh for fleecing the people of Punjab through steep electricity tariff hike, increase in Market Committee and Rural Development fees, backdoor taxes on Entertainment and Professionals, proposed closure of 800 Government Primary Schools to save money etc.
Khaira said, that a government which was voted to power barely seven months ago on the basis of lofty electoral promises, has now embarked upon the draconian path to teach its own people a lesson by burdening them severely with multiple taxes.
Khaira while elaborating took to task the Captain government on the recent massive hike in electricity tariff ranging between 7-12 percent. He said instead of fulfilling its promise to give relief to industry by offering them Rs. 5 per unit, the government has now burdened all sectors of domestic, commercial as well as industry. Khaira said the hike comes at a time when people are faced with increasing inflation, slow growth rate and recession. He said it was saddening to note, that the government hasn’t spared even the poorest of the poor by increasing their tariff as well. And the worst part is, that the hike has been implemented with retrospective effect i.e. 1st April 2017, something never mentioned by the government during the budget session held in June.
Khaira added, that similarly the government has recently increased the Market Committee and Rural Development fees from 1% to 3% to mop up Rs. 900 crore, which will further burden the farmers who are committing suicides in large numbers. Khaira also condemned the levying of Entertainment and Professional tax which is against the principle of GST, “one nation one tax”.
Khaira also took to task the Captain government for closing down 800 GPS on the pretext of merger, merely to save money. This step he said will endanger the future of thousands of poor students, besides rendering 1600 teachers jobless.
Khaira urged Captain Amarinder Singh to immediately roll back the huge electricity tariff hike and other backdoor taxations, to save people the agony of economic burden and inflation.