SHILLONG, June 19: Opposition Leader Mukul Sangma has slammed the NPP-led MDA government for its plan to implement the one-time settlement (OTS) scheme to recover the outstanding value-added tax (VAT) from more than 230 fuel outlets across the state.
Reacting to the OTS move on Saturday, he said the people have already paid their taxes for petroleum products and VAT realised by the fuel outlet owners.
“If it has to be refunded, it has to be refunded to the people,” Dr Sangma said, adding that the move is a deviation of the law.
Sangma said the VAT was realised from the public for the exchequer of the government and not for enriching the fuel outlet owners.
Congress had earlier alleged that the state government’s taxation department failed to realise Rs 650 crore in VAT from 229 fuel outlets across the state for the past three.
Dr Sangma also slammed the government over the uncontrolled rise in prices of essential commodities as well as CGI sheets in the state, maintaining that he does not see any effort from the government to address the issue. “We need to know if there is a complete manipulation of the market. The spike in prices is 50-100%,” he said, lamenting the skyrocketing price of cement despite the fact that cement companies operating from the state enjoying subsidies.
“There must be an investigation into who benefits from these uncontrolled prices,” the former Chief Minister said.
Advising the authorities to understand the difficulties faced by the people, he said the reputation of the state has gone down the drain.
Dr Sangma wondered if the Conrad K Sangma-led government has become too dictatorial to listen to the voice of the people and the coalition partners.
He recalled how the United Democratic Party was ignored for asking the government to review the policy decisions pertaining to the MeECL.
