Fuel tax hike inevitable: CM HD Kumaraswamy

Bengaluru: Regardless of pressure from coalition Congress to withdraw the budgetary proposition to hike tax on petroleum and diesel, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday declared his decision on increasing the tax on fuel to mobilize income for the waiving off the farmer’s loan. 

Notwithstanding, on the floor of the House, it was Mr. Rao who acted the hero for Mr. Kumaraswamy when he attested his decision to increase tax on petrol and diesel. Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Krishna Byre Gowda additionally went up against the Opposition BJP on the issue of waiver of farmer loan and remained by the Chief Minister. 

Ministers, including Priyank Kharge, R.V. Deshpande and D.K. Shivakumar, additionally stretched their help in Mr. Kumaraswamy’s effort to shield the coalition government’s budget plan. 

Mr. Rao countered the BJP’s contention by expressing that the BJP-drove NDA government at the Center had increased fuel cost about 11 times over the past four years, in spite of fuel cost falling in the global market. Mr. Kumaraswamy stated, “The cost of fuel is lower in Karnataka than in BJP-represented States. There was no other alternative but to rise the tax to adjust the financial shortfall.” Defending his stand on  increasing tax on power consumption, the Chief Minister said the burden on the consumer would be least. 

Not happy with the Chief Minister’s answer, BJP members walked out.