06-12-2006, 11:45 PM
<!--emo&:cool--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/specool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='specool.gif' /><!--endemo--><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Â <b>Vajpayee, Advani court arrest on price hikes </b>
Source: PTI.Â
New Delhi, June 12: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Leader of Opposition L K Advani today courted arrest while protesting the rise in prices as the <b>BJP described the Congress move to slash sales tax on fuel in states under its control as a "joke". </b>
<b>"A strange phenomenon has emerged with states being asked to share the burden. We have no objection if states cut taxes on their own. But it would be a joke if the Centre uses its pressure on states to slash their taxes,"</b> the former Prime Minister said at the NDA protest rally before he courted arrest.
<b>Vajpayee also insisted on a reduction in Central excise and customs duties to bring down prices of petrol and diesel.
"Instead, we would force the Centre to reduce its customs and excise duties to bring down fuel costs,"</b> he said.
Vajpayee, who is also the NDA chairman, accused the ruling Congress-led UPA of inability to control prices.
<b>"The government is unable to decide how it should check price increases. The Congress government is in a state of confusion. The 'aam admi (common man)' is in trouble because of rising prices and the Congress government has lost direction,"</b> he remarked.
The former Prime Minister, who sat against a large canvas price chart, also spoke about the rise in prices of edibles and fuel since the Congress-led UPA took power in 2004.
In their speeches, both Advani and BJP chief Rajnath Singh too flayed the Congress for sales tax cuts in party-ruled states. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Source: PTI.Â
New Delhi, June 12: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Leader of Opposition L K Advani today courted arrest while protesting the rise in prices as the <b>BJP described the Congress move to slash sales tax on fuel in states under its control as a "joke". </b>
<b>"A strange phenomenon has emerged with states being asked to share the burden. We have no objection if states cut taxes on their own. But it would be a joke if the Centre uses its pressure on states to slash their taxes,"</b> the former Prime Minister said at the NDA protest rally before he courted arrest.
<b>Vajpayee also insisted on a reduction in Central excise and customs duties to bring down prices of petrol and diesel.
"Instead, we would force the Centre to reduce its customs and excise duties to bring down fuel costs,"</b> he said.
Vajpayee, who is also the NDA chairman, accused the ruling Congress-led UPA of inability to control prices.
<b>"The government is unable to decide how it should check price increases. The Congress government is in a state of confusion. The 'aam admi (common man)' is in trouble because of rising prices and the Congress government has lost direction,"</b> he remarked.
The former Prime Minister, who sat against a large canvas price chart, also spoke about the rise in prices of edibles and fuel since the Congress-led UPA took power in 2004.
In their speeches, both Advani and BJP chief Rajnath Singh too flayed the Congress for sales tax cuts in party-ruled states. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->