Frustrated with the Gujarat government turning deaf ears to their demand to cut value added tax (VAT) on CNG, various unions of autorickshaw drivers from across the state have decided to fully support the nation-wide bandh call given by the BJP.
If their demands are not met, they not only plan to boycott the BJP during the forthcoming assembly elections, but also have threatened to propagate against the party and ask people not to vote for BJP. They have also decided to hold a rally on June 8 from Ahmedabad to Chief Minister Narendra Modi's office in state capital Gandhinagar and give him a memorandum demanding removal of VAT on CNG. Some of the unions have already given such memorandum to their respective district collectors.
These unions have been opposing the frequent rise in CNG prices which has increased by 42 per cent in last one year. They have been demanding that VAT on the commodity be decrease or removed completely which could make commuting in autorikshaw affordable for the people. The unions are also miffed at the gas companies who are not ready to roll back the CNG prices under the pretext of fluctuating rupee and increase in prices of liquified natural gas.
"Last week we had gone to meet the chief minister, but after waiting for over two hours we were asked to meet a subordinate officer in the CM office. We are frustrated with the attitude of state government which has till date not responded to over demand to cut down or remove VAT on CNG which at present is 15 per cent," convenor for the Gujarat Autorickshaw Drivers' Sangharsh Morch (GADSM) Raju Sirke said.
"We had a meeting of autorickshaw drivers from Ahmedabad and other cities where it has been decided to hold a rally to CM office on June 8 against the VAT on CNG. If the government does not fulfill our demands, we shall boycott BJP in the coming election and vote against them," he added.
The CNG price in May last year was Rs 37.16 per kg, which has now reached, including latest hike on May 15, to Rs 53 per kg, an increase of 42 per cent. The primary supplier of CNG to Ahmedabad is Adani Gas which has 50 CNG stations in the city. It also supplies natural gas to 1.50 lakh domestic customers, 700 industries and 1100 commercial customers in Ahmedabad. Adani gas has attributed hike in CNG to increase in prices of liquified natural gas and fluctuation in currency exchange rates.