Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Sunday lashed out against the Centre’s decision to impose sales tax, education cess and higher education cess on rail passenger and freight charges. Calling the decision ‘anti-people’, she demanded that the Centre repeal the announcement.
“This announcement was part of the Railway Budget, but had not been imposed thanks to the conditions laid down by a key ally of the Centre. Now, that party has left the UPA, and the Centre has imposed the levy with the confidence that none of its existing allies would question it,” said Jayalalithaa in statement.
“Even those who are eligible for concessions - like senior citizens, children and disabled persons - are expected to pay the levy, which will not be returned even when the ticket is cancelled. This order is an injustice perpetrated against the common man and the poor of the country. It would also apply to parking charges and catering services at railway stations,” Jayalalithaa’s statement read.
She also said the levy of 12 per cent sales tax on 30 per cent of charge, and 2 per cent education cess and 1 per cent higher education cess on the sales tax), through its resultant increase in prices, would lead to a further rise in the prices of food articles and other commodities. This would lead to higher inflation, she noted.
“This is the latest in a string of announcements against the interests of the common man, like the petrol price hike, diesel price hike, cap on LPG cylinders and FDI in retail.
‘‘I strongly condemn this announcement and urge the Centre to repeal the levy,” Jayalalithaa said.
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