Tree felling, VAT hike to be main issues: Satti

Vidhan Sabha Session

Our Correspondent

Una, November 30

State BJP president and Una MLA Satpal Singh Satti today said the party had a number of issues to corner the government in the coming Vidhan Sabha session.

Talking to mediapersons here, he said illegal felling of trees in Shimla near Tara Devi, hike in VAT and failed Public Distribution System were some burning issues on which the Opposition would seek discussion.

Satti said the BJP was already in possession of some documents which pointed towards irregularities by Thakur Singh Bharmouri, Forest Minister, particularly the illegal felling of trees in Tara Devi. He said their party leadership was studying these documents and would seek a white paper during the session.

The BJP president said while VAT on petrol and diesel had already been hiked by the government, there were proposals to increase VAT on other commodities too. Terming this an anti-people step, he said this would increase inflation and hit the poor the most.

Satti said the decision of the government to increase the rates of essential commodities under the Public Distribution System was also an unwelcome step. Besides, he said, some pulses were not available for distribution, adding that the Opposition would rake up the issue in the Assembly.

He charged that while the Union Government was reducing the rates of petroleum products, the state government was doing the opposite.

Satti said all issues would be prioritised during a meeting of the BJP legislators, to be chaired by former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal at Hamirpur on December 4.