Kolkata: BJP men clash with cops during rally, give 7-day ultimatum to WB govt to reduce VAT – Times of India

KOLKATA: Activists of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clashed with the police in West Bengal’s Kolkata on Monday after they were stopped from taking out a rally demanding a slash in taxes levied by the state on fuel prices.
Several saffron camp workers and leaders were detained during the scuffle, a police officer said.
The party later gave a seven-day ultimatum to the state to accept its demand.
It threatened to launch a bigger movement next week, if the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government fails to do so.
On Sunday, the BJP had said that it would hit the roads if the state does not reduce the VAT it charges on petrol and diesel prices, in line with the Centre’s move to cut excise duty.
The rally was scheduled to cover the distance between the saffron party’s office at Central Avenue and the metro station in Esplanade.
Since morning, the police had put up barricades outside the BJP office to stop activists from holding the rally.
As soon as saffron camp members set out on the march, they were prevented from moving ahead by the police, following which a scuffle ensued between the two sides.
“Every time the BJP decides to take out a rally, Covid-19 norms are cited. A few days ago, however, when the TMC took out similar rallies against the Centre over rising fuel prices, the Covid norms were clearly not applicable. It seems that the TMC is afraid of the BJP, and that is why it is trying to stop us from taking out rallies,” the saffron party’s state president, Sukanta Majumdar, said.
Echoing him, Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari asserted that the party would hold its protest march in the state at any cost.
“Not just the Centre, several other states have slashed taxes to bring down the fuel prices, but the TMC government which pretends to be pro-people is yet to do the same. Their double standard stands exposed,” he claimed.
Later, while talking to reporters, Majumdar said the party would wait for a week and then launch a march to Nabanna if its demand is not met with.
“We are giving the state government an ultimatum of seven days… If it doesn’t accept our demand, we will take out march to Nabanna to press for the same,” he said.
Adhikari quipped that the TMC government “has funds in excess” for distribution among local clubs but “it can’t slash VAT rates as it will apparently put pressure on state coffers”.
“I will write to the Prime Minister very soon seeking an investigation into the alleged malpractices that is going on in the garb of funds disbursal among various clubs. It is a big scam,” he said.
Earlier, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh had alleged that the BJP was indulging in “cheap politics” over the issue.
Maintaining that the revenue realised from fuel tax by the Centre is far more than that of states, Ghosh further suggested that some parity should be maintained.
“The BJP is indulging in cheap politics over fuel prices as its apathy in stemming the skyrocketing prices of petrol, diesel, and LPG has been exposed. It has slashed excise duty on petrol and diesel a bit, fine! But that is too little, too less,” Ghosh had said.
The Centre recently reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 5 and Rs 10 respectively. Several states, including Assam, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh, followed suit, cutting VAT rates in different proportions.