Chandigarh, July 3 – Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda suggested that in order to minimize the impact of inflation, the steps should be taken to increase the purchasing power common man and also on the pattern of Haryana, BJP ruled States should reduce the tax on diesel and petrol and abolish tax on LPG and also give old age pension of Rs. 1000 per month.
Mr. Hooda was participating in a programme entitled as “Kya Ache Din Aane wale hai” in New Delhi today.
Mr Hooda said that although the period of one month to assess the functioning of a government is very less but the coming events cast their shadows before. The manner in which the NDA Government had increased the rate of diesel, patrol, sugar and railways passenger fare and freight charges reflect that there saying that good days are coming was meaningless. He said that BJP is sidelining itself from the issue of price rise. He said that NDA should not hard press the farmers in the name of inflation. He said that the State Government had already taken a number steps to keep prices of essential commodities under control.
It has adopted the concept of Apni Mandi where farmers can sell their produce without any middle man. The State Government has also withdrawn market fee on vegetables and fruits. Besides farmers are also being given power at subsidized rates. He said that there rates are much less than those of other states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
He said that a number of steps have been taken in Haryana to minimize the impact of inflation on poor and the middle class. As compare to other states the rate of tax on petrol and diesel in Haryana is less. He said that in Haryana the rate of tax on diesel is 9.24 per cent whereas in Rajasthan it is 18 per cent, and 24 per cent in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Similarly, the rate of tax on petrol in Haryana is 21 per cent whereas in Rajasthan it is 26 per cent and in Punjab 30.8 per cent, Madhya Pradesh 28 per cent and Gujarat 26 per cent.
Mr. Hooda said that in Haryana, there is no tax on LPG, while rate of tax on LPG in Punjab is 4.4 per cent and in Madhya Pradesh 7 per cent. He said that in Haryana tax on LPG has been abolished to give a big relief to the people. He said that in Haryana the senior citizens are being given a monthly pension of Rs. 1000 which is the highest in the country. In Punjab old age pension is Rs. 250 per month, in Uttar Pradesh Rs. 300 per month, in Gujarat Rs. 400 per month and in Rajasthan Rs. 550 per month. He said that in Haryana 81 per cent senior citizens are being given old age pension and this percentage is the highest in the country.