Thiruvananthapuram: LDF leaders, led by Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan, met Governor P. Sathasivam and urged him to not to sign the ordinance being brought by Government for effecting hikes in various taxes and levies, including water tariff.
After coming out of Raj Bhavan, Mr Achuthanandan told reporters; “The Governor has assured to take suitable action after examining the legal issues involved in the matter and also after seeking the views of the officials concerned.” In its memorandum, the LDF pointed out that the UDF Government had imposed heavy tax burden on the people through the back-door.
“Just three months ago the Government had cleared proposals for mobilising '1398 crore rupees. Now they want to raise Rs 2000 crore through the ordinance route something which is unprecedented in the state,’’ it pointed out.
The LDF has demanded immediate roll back of taxes and emergency session of Assembly to discuss the issue. The LDF state committee on Monday decided to boycott additional taxes imposed by the Government and urged the people not pay the hiked land tax and water tariff.
Meanwhle CPM general secretary Prakash Karat hit out at the UDF Government for imposing additional taxes on the people.
At a function in Kollam on Monday, he said the state unit of the party and LDF were mobilising the people against the Government decision . “I am sure they will be able to rally all sections of people, mobilise wider section of people in this movement and succeed in forcing the government to roll back the hike,’’ he added.
