UDF MLAs protest against Kerala government over fuel tax

The opposition Congress-led UDF MLAs on Thursday in Kerala protested against the government at the state Legislative Assembly for not withdrawing the fuel and alcohol taxes that were included in the budget.

V D Satheesan, the leader of the opposition in the state assembly, organised a march of UDF legislators from the MLA hostel to the assembly, claiming that the state government is looting the people.

Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal tabled the budget in the state assembly on February 2. He said that the Centre’s help to the state has been reduced, so the expectation of a financial crisis can’t be denied this year.  

Speaking to media persons, Satheesan criticised the allegedly arrogant behaviour of the LDF government and declared that the UDF would intensify its protests both inside and outside the assembly.

The opposition MLAs reached the assembly with placards and raised slogans criticising the Kerala government led by Pinarayi Vijayan for failing to provide relief to the common people who are feeling the heat due to the price rise on alcohol and fuel.

Meanwhile, the youth wing of the Congress party demonstrated against the Kerala budget in Kochi today, and they fought with the police personnel, who used water cannons to disperse the demonstrators.

The enraged Congress workers stormed the streets and set fire to tyres near police barricades set up to stop the protesters. Later, the cops lathi-charged to disperse them.

Satheesan asked the state government to think about the fuel tax because the prices of petrol and diesel have already put a burden on the common man.

The Congress leader went on to say that we have been protesting inside and outside of the assembly for the last few days. Not to talk of opposition, even the general public thinks that the government should be forced to remove some of the taxes. But the state government is not ready to listen.