Spoorthy Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)

Mangaluru, Feb 24: JDS party held mass protests on Wednesday in front of Mini Vidhan Soudha, here, alleging that the prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed due to exorbitant taxes imposed by the governments at the centre and the state.

In a memorandum submitted to prime minister Modi and chief minister B S Yediyurappa through the district deputy commissioner, the party stated that out of the price of petrol being paid in Mangaluru, the union government skins more than Rs 33 as excise duty and the state government charges Rs 23 per litre. "The dealer commission and other expenditure is Rs 3.80. Similarly, the central government charges Rs 32 and the state government charges Rs 15.50 per litre of diesel. Other charges are Rs 3.50. In this manner even though the base price of petrol is only Rs 29.98 and the base price of diesel is Rs 31, the customers are made to pay up to Rs 100. Five non-BJP states in the country have reduced their part of taxes on fuel. But our government at the centre and the Karnataka state are sitting with closed eyes."

"You have amended the farm laws in the country on pressure from rich multinational companies and richest companies in the country making farmers stand on the streets. There is no response from the government to the protests being held by farmers for months. The people who support the protests by the farmers are named traitors and police cases are being registered against them. Government-owned organizations are being handed over to private parties. People have come to know that the only programme of the government is to support and nurture Adanis and Ambanis.

It is tragic that the government which came to power showing the dreams of Rama Rajya is making people wash their hands with their tears.

Therefore, Janata Dal and organizations that oppose the anti-people policies of the government plead with the government to stop playing with the lives of ordinary people and middle-class people. Reduce the chain of taxes and release the ordinary people from the bondage of taxes. Allow them to live," they stated in the memorandum.