Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State secretary M.V. Govindan on Tuesday demanded that the State government should forgo fuel tax revenue to alleviate the sufferings of the people who have been struggling due to the sharp rise in fuel prices in recent weeks. He accused Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan of playing opportunistic politics as he had as the Leader of the Opposition taken the position that the government should forgo fuel tax revenue.

“The fuel prices have gone up four times after the United Democratic Front (UDF) UDF government took charge. Mr. Satheesan had in the past even staged a protest by cycling from the Cantonment House to the Assembly demanding the State government to forgo fuel tax revenue. However, he now remains silent despite this huge hike. The State government still gets ₹2 as additional revenue from the sale of a litre of fuel. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had in 2018 decided to forgo a part of this revenue,” said Mr. Govindan.

He said that the Union government failed to take any steps to face the crisis arising out of the war situation in West Asia. The hike in commercial LPG prices by ₹1,544 in just 4 months has created difficulties even for schools that provide midday meals. Prices are also increasing in restaurants. The UDF government did not criticise any of the policies of the BJP-led Union government in the Governor’s policy address. The LDF will organise a protest in front of Union government institutions in all districts on Thursday, he said.

Mr. Govindan alleged that the Governor appointed the leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) teachers’ union as the Vice-Chancellor in-charge of Mahatma Gandhi University. “His only merit is his Sangh Parivar affiliation. The UDF government facilitated his appointment by not submitting the panel of candidates on time. During the LDF government’s term, three names were submitted. This appointment is proof that the UDF is implementing the Sangh Parivar’s agenda,” he said.