PANJIM Congress in Goa has decided not to observe State Bandh as part of nation-wide shutdown call given by its party against the rising fuel prices on September 10. 

Addressing media persons, North Goa District Congress President Vijay Bhike said that State Congress unit will not observe the bandh in the wake of forthcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival, scheduled on September 13. 

“People are already facing the brunt of increasing fuel prices and other commodities. By calling for Goa bandh, we don’t want to cause more inconvenience to the people. Monday will be the day, when people would be doing shopping for the festival,” he said. 

Bhike said that Congress will hold peaceful awareness across all the major petrol pumps and distribute pamphlets to the public explaining about the price rise before 2014 and since the time Narendra Modi-led government has taken over.

Indian National Congress has called for Bharat bandh on Monday to protest against the fuel price rise. The nationwide shutdown will be observed between 9 am and 3 pm. 

The Congress leader demanded that in Goa, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar should abolish Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol as promised. Currently, the petrol prices in the State are around Rs74.78 per litre. 

“In 2012, as promised Parrikar government had withdrawn VAT on petrol, but at the same time he had promised that he will never allow fuel prices to go above Rs 65 per litre. Government had promised to withdraw VAT as and when needed to keep stability in price,” Bhike said. 

“If the Chief Minister is really concerned about the public, then he should abolish VAT on petrol within 24 hours,” he added. 

The VAT on petroleum in Goa is at 17 per cent at present. Last year it was hiked from 15 per cent to 17 per cent. 

Meanwhile, briefing media persons, South Goa District Committee President Joe Dias told  that having the bandh on September 10 would cause a lot of hardships to people preparing for the Ganesh festival and hence they sought special exemption from the party high command.

He pointed out that in 2014 during the UPA rule when the crude oil was 109 US Dollars, in India petrol was costing Rs 52.50 per litre, diesel was available for Rs 47 a litre while the LPG cylinder was costing Rs 385. “And yet the BJP used to call those the bad (burre) din,” he said.

At present, he pointed out, even though there is worldwide recession of around 60 per cent, petrol is available for Rs 73.25 per litre while diesel can be purchased only for Rs 73 per litre and the LPG cylinder costs as much as Rs 839. “Are these the Acche (good) din that we were promised,” he asked.

Joe pointed out that the central excise on petrol is as much as 17 per cent while during the UPA rule it was only 9 per cent. “The government should reduce the central excise to provide relief to the common man as it would help reduce the price of petrol,” he said.

Subhash Phaldessai who was also present revealed that the profit made by petroleum companies has shot up to Rs. 2,86,000 crores while during the UPA government it was lower at Rs. 1,16,000 crore.