Bengal government should cut petrol tax: Left Front

Kolkata, May 25 (IANS) Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government should cut sales tax on petrol after the steep hike in prices, Left Front chairman Biman Bose said Friday, adding the front will take out rallies across the state from Saturday to demand a roll-back of the hike.

"As opposition leader, Mamata Banerjee had time and again demanded that the state government reduce sales tax on petrol. Now that she is the chief minister, she should do that," Bose said after attending a meeting of Left Front partners here.

He said the frontal organisations of the Left Front would hit the streets from May 26 to May 31 in all districts of the state.

Bose also called Mamata Banerjee's decision to take out a procession on the issue a ploy to divert public attention.

The central government and the oil companies were responsible for the hike, he said.

"It was this central government which de-regulated petroleum prices. As a result, oil companies are increasing the prices on a regular basis," said Bose, a Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo member.

"The oil companies and the central government are indifferent towards the suffering of the masses. The excuse that the oil companies and the government are giving that the oil prices have increased in the international market is totally untrue," he said.