‘Taxing the poor’: Opposition raises gasoline worth hike subject in Lok Sabha

The Opposition took on the federal government over provisions within the Union Budget and rising gasoline costs within the nation throughout discussions on the Finance Bill, 2021 in Lok Sabha Tuesday. While the Congress raised the difficulty of rising financial inequality within the nation and gasoline costs, Shiv Sena mentioned farmers’ revenue would by no means double if gasoline costs saved growing.
“The inequality is increasing. Your own data shows that 73% of wealth generated in the country goes to 1% people. You have given tax relief to the rich but taxed the poor. Why are petrol and diesel getting more expensive every day? You have been increasing cess on everything which goes to central coffers. It doesn’t help states. GST compensation has also not been given. Please do not do this, states are suffering,” Congress MP from Punjab Amar Singh mentioned.
Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut additionally raised the difficulty of gasoline costs. “On one hand you talk about doubling income of farmers, on the other you increase diesel and petrol prices in the name of agricultural cess. You are crippling the farmer as the transportation cost of his produce is increasing. Farmers are protesting in Delhi but after taking a few initial steps, you are not talking to them and resolving the issue,” Raut mentioned.
Raising the difficulty of LPG costs, Raut mentioned, “LPG prices have also increased. People are again using wood. Does the government want that people should use wood more and more for cooking and fall ill?”
Raut demanded that gasoline and fuel be introduced underneath GST, “The Late Arun Jaitley had said that we are in favour of bringing fuel and gas under GST. Why haven’t you done this? I request PM, you are a well-wisher of the poor, please bring them under GST to bring the prices down.”
Speaking on the finances total, Congress’s Amar Singh mentioned that the federal government was blaming the pandemic for the poor situation of the financial system however the financial system was doing poorly because the first quarter of 2018-19.
“Even if we grow by 10% in the next year we will only reach 0. So tell us when will we reach the GDP figures of 2018-19?” Singh mentioned.
He additionally demanded that information on unorganised sector losses must be collected. “Except agriculture, all sectors have suffered. Government should try to fathom through NSSO the losses in unorganised sector. We have totally ignored the unorganised sector,” Singh mentioned.
Singh identified that PMKY finances has been decreased by Rs 10,000 crore at a time when agriculture supported the financial system on the time of disaster. “Why have you decreased MGNREGA budget by Rs 38,000 crore? You have said nothing about job losses,” Singh mentioned.
He additionally mentioned that at a time when India was going through risk from China, there was no substantial capital expenditure in defence. “Capital expenditure used to be 36% under UPA, now it is 25-26%. Defence was expecting more, but it didn’t happen,” Singh mentioned.
Vinayak Raut of Shiv Sena mentioned that the financial system was going through a dire state of affairs as 6.8 lakh firms had closed down until date and 74% small companies had shut down through the pandemic.
“Over 10,000 firms have shut down … 71 lakh EPF accounts have shut down. How are you going to generate jobs? But, you have waived off Rs 68,000 crore to the rich,” Raut mentioned.

He additionally raised the difficulty of MPLAD funds. “You can buy Rs 7.5 k crore worth of aircraft. Fine, if it is necessary. But why take MPLAD away when it is used for the welfare of the people,” mentioned Raut.
YSRCP’s PV Midhun Reddy requested the federal government to launch pending funds in MGNREGA and requested it to not disinvest profit-making PSUs.