People's Democracy

DELHI STATE BUDGET

More Burdens On Working People: CPI(M)

THE CPI(M) Delhi state committee condemned the Rs 2,359.97 crore deficit budget, presented in the state assembly on July 22 by the Delhi state government, as being anti-people and one which will only add to the burdens on the working population of Delhi. It appealed to the people to see through the fraudulent nature of this budget and build pressure for withdrawal of its anti-people aspects on the state government.

In a statement issued on July 23, 2004, the state committee drew attention to the fact that the Congress state government had already taken several anti-people measures prior to this budgetary exercise, like hike in power tariff, increase in Metro fares and privatisation & imposition of user charges for sanitation in unauthorised colonies. An iniquitous unit area system of property tax has also been introduced earlier, the ill effects of which are being faced by a large section of the lower middle class and middle class. The budget further increases such attacks on the people, felt the CPI(M).

Further, it said “the budgetary hike in the sale-tax on diesel, paper, surgical items and readymade garments will further add to the burdens on the people of Delhi. The hike in diesel prices will result in increase of the local goods transport costs with an all round inflationary impact. The tax on paper will increase the prices of stationery and books to the detriment of students. Similarly the increase on readymade garments and surgical items will impact adversely on the middle class.”

Saying that the cost of civic amenities like water, bus and metro fares, sanitation, education and health will be increased during the course of the year to meet the budgetary deficit, the CPI(M) demanded withdrawal of hike in sale tax proposed in the state government’s budget. (INN)