Team Herald

PANJIM: A day after Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho announced slashing of road tax by 50 per cent on new vehicles; Congress on Tuesday said that the move will not benefit the common man, who is not in a position to buy vehicles due to the struggling economy.

Ahead of the festive season, in a bid to boost the auto industry, the State government has decided to slash road tax by 50 per cent for new vehicles for a period of three months from October onwards.

“It may superficially appear that the 50 per cent reduction in road tax will benefit the common man, but the hard truth is that due to the failed economy management of the BJP government, people don’t have the financial strength to buy vehicles and this particular announcement is just an eye wash,” said Girish Chodankar, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President.

Chodankar questioned whether the govt will have daily budget announcements to tackle the bumpy economy due to the failed policies of the BJP-led govt at the Centre and the State.

“The country has been pushed to a debt trap by the Narendra Modi-led government due to its high handedness and arrogant behaviour. These types of short-term measures will not work as people are facing crisis to manage with the day to day expenditure for their living. The government must come up with concrete solutions to streamline the economy or it should quit immediately,” he demanded.

GPCC president further questioned the authority of the State transport minister in making such an announcement, when it comes under the ambit of the finance department, which is the Chief Minister’s domain.

“The Chief Minister should answer to Goans whether Mauvin Godinho is the new finance minister of the State,” he said.