SPARE COMMON CITIZEN, TAX SUBSIDISED INDUSTRY

THE new year does not promise to be very happy for Karnataka. Going by recent indications from the government, the ordinary citizen is likely to find a bigger hole in the pocket.

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After raising fuel and liquor prices, the Siddaramaiah government is looking at raising milk prices, water and electricity tariffs, bus fares and property tax. Having waited for the Lok Sabha elections to conclude on June 4 last year, the government delivered its first blow on June 15 by increasing sales tax on fuel, which pushed up the price of petrol and diesel by ₹3. In two years, the state has raised alcohol prices twice, and is also proposing a heavy tax on beer; its liquor prices are already the highest in south India. Critics say the Congress government, which rode to power on its five guarantees, is imposing ta