Opposition Congress today asked the BJP-led state government to do a "rethink" on its Budgetary proposal which calls for the imposition of surcharge on VAT across the state to offset the revenue loss due to abolition of Local Body Tax in municipal limits, from August 1.
Addressing a press conference here, state unit Congress President Ashok Chavan said the government's move to "burden" the rural areas as an alternative to scrap the LBT is "condemnable".
"Government should do a rethink on this proposal of taxing rural people for the development of cities," Chavan said.
Presenting its maiden budget in March, the Devendra Fadnavis government had announced scrapping of LBT from August 1 while proposing imposition of surcharge on VAT across the state to compensate the loss in revenue due to doing away with LBT.
Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar had yesterday termed the VAT surcharge as a feasible option to LBT and said government was considering other alternatives as well.
Chavan told reporters his party will oppose any move to put the rural population to hardship.
On derecognition of a students' body in IIT Madras for being critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA government, Chavan expressed apprehension that such action of harming the freedom of speech and expression could be repeated in Maharashtra also.
"...All this started last year with Fr Frazer Mascarenhas, principal of St Xavier's college, being targetted for his letter to students, which was posted on its website," the former Chief Minister said.
He also referred to the complaint filed by BJP with the Election Commission in April last year against the principal for violating the model code of conduct.
BJP had accused Mascarenhas of openly criticising the Gujarat model of development and indirectly targeting Narendra Modi, who was its prime ministerial candidate at that time and also chief minister of Gujarat.
Chavan said he had asked district Congress units to remain vigilant about efforts to muzzle criticism, free speech and ideological debate.
