Goa Government Faces Backlash Over VAT Hike on Petrol and Diesel

The Goa government announced an increase in Value Added Tax on petrol and diesel, effective Saturday, leading to a rise in the prices of petrol by Re 1 and diesel by 36 paise. Opposition leaders criticized the move, calling the government insensitive and demanding the hike's withdrawal.

The Goa government has introduced an increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel starting Saturday, causing the price of petrol to rise by Re 1 and diesel by 36 paise, an official stated.

The official notification for this hike was issued on Friday by Pranab G Bhat, under secretary (finance) in the state government.

''The change in VAT will see petrol and diesel prices rising by Re 1 and 36 paise, respectively. Currently, petrol in Goa costs Rs 95.40 per litre, while diesel is priced at Rs 87.90 per litre,'' the official noted.

Leader of Opposition and senior Congress member Yuri Alemao condemned the move, labeling it as an ''insensitive act'' by the government, and demanded an immediate withdrawal of the hike.

''Instead of these hikes, the Pramod Sawant government should focus on curbing its wasteful expenditures,'' Alemao argued.

He further commented, ''The state government aims to crush the common people. Following a recent hike in power tariffs, today's rise in fuel prices only adds to the burden.''

In a social media post, Goa Aam Aadmi Party chief Amit Palekar alleged, ''To fuel the ever-rising corruption under @BJP4Goa led by CM @DrPramodPSawant, the BJP has once again dug into the pockets of the common man by raising fuel prices after the electricity tariff hike. How much more suffering will the common man endure?''