Patan (Lalitpur) : The Nepali Congress has expressed serious concern over the government’s recent decision to levy mandatory customs duty on household and personal items worth more than Rs 100 brought into Nepal from the bordering Indian market.
Party spokesperson Devraj Chalise has issued a press release today, calling the move anti-people, impractical and insensitive, while demanding an immediate reconsideration over the decision. Common people, daily wage laborers, small farmers and low-income families, especially in Madhesh Province are likely to be severely impacted.
The Congress has stated that imposing additional duty on small purchases of Rs 200-300 at a time when the price of diesel has reached Rs 237 per liter is a policy move that weakens the purchasing power of the people and institutionalizes poverty.
The party has demanded that the decision be immediately withdrawn or that practical limits be set for personal use items and that a relief package be introduced for Madhes Province, targeting agriculture, irrigation and small industries.
Similarly, the Congress has also urged the government to adopt a pro-poor cross-subsidy policy by implementing a transparent pricing system to control fuel prices and to provide relief by reducing taxes on fuel imports. The Congress has stated that while revenue collection is the responsibility of the state, protecting the living standards of the people is a greater priority and has made it clear that any policy that adds additional burden to the daily lives of the people will not be acceptable.
