Chandigarh, Sep 2 (IANS): While condemning the toll rate hike in Haryana, senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala on Wednesday urged the state government to immediately roll back the toll hike.

Surjewala said the toll rates have been increased by the government for the second time during the Covid-19 pandemic, which showed the government's insensitivity to the people.

On the one hand, people of the country and the state are facing the economic recession and on the other instead of providing some relief to the people, the government is rubbing salt into their wounds by issuing such "Tughlaqi firmans".

The Congress chief spokesperson reminded that heavy tax is levied by the state on the road tax on the purchase of new vehicles and it is also a matter of record that the Khattar government has been repeatedly increasing VAT on petrol and diesel for the last six years.

He described the hike as "insensitive and the third blow to the people, who are already bearing the brunt of coronavirus, lockdown and economic slowdown".

Surjewala said there are 32 national highways and three national expressways with a total length of 3,531 km in Haryana, which enables every district to be connected to some national highway.

Often, one has to use national highways to go from one district to the other. In such a situation, the toll rate hike on national highways would increase inflation and directly affect transporters and a large number of people using private vehicles, Surjewala added.