On the evening of Wednesday 23rd May 2012, Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi lambasted the Congress-ruled UPA for the steep hike of Rs. 7.50 in petrol prices that was announced yesterday.
Sharing his views on Twitter, Shri Modi Tweeted, “Massive hike in petro prices is a prime example of the failure of Congress-led UPA. This will put a burden of hundreds of crores on Gujarat.” He added, “This decision to hike petrol prices taken a day after the ending of Parliament session is a stinging rebuke to the dignity of Parliament” and that the people would not forgive the Government for the same.
It should also be noted that the VAT rates on Petrol in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, which are Congress ruled States and West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh (UPA allies) is more than Gujarat rates. In Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Kerala and Rajasthan 4% VAT is levied on LPG and Kerosene whereas in Gujarat it is ’NIL’.
This is not the first time Shri Modi has come down heavily on the Centre for its anti-people legislation. He has been at the forefront of opposing the unilateral cotton export ban and has even written letters to the Prime Minister on the same. Recently during his speech at Krishi Mahotsav, the Chief Minister urged the Centre to raise the height of the main dam of the Sardar Sarovar Project, something it has sat on for two generations now.
In addition, he has written letters opposing more anti-people measures be it the Centre’s meat export policy and its promoting of the anti-farmer ‘pink revolution’ or the Centre’s measure to bring duties on non-branded gold jewelry. He has also severely condemned the move to bring TDS on the transfer of immovable property.
Shri Modi has even taken the lead in opposing National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and changes in the RPF Act, terming them as detrimental to the federal structure of the nation.
