Opposition being sidelined in excise policy

TIRUPATI: With the cabinet sub-committee to begin exercise on an new excise policy on May 30, CPI state secretary K Narayana demanded the state government convene an all-party meeting to get the opinions of other political parties on the policy.Speaking to the media on Sunday , Narayana criticised the state government move of setting up a cabinet subcommittee to take a call on new excise policy before eliciting the views of all political parties.“The government must hold an all-party meeting first.Later, the cabinet panel can begin exercise on the new excise policy, taking the views of the parties into consideration,” he said.The CPI leader alleged that the Congress government, neck-deep with the Rs 80,000-cr liquor scam, was deliberately preventing the opposition parties to be a part of the new excise policy, fearing criticism by the latter.Narayana, however, wanted the state government adopt an excise policy on line of Tamil Nadu and Delhi where the government is running liquor shops.He demanded the government slash sale tax on petrol to offset burden on consumer, a move adopted by Kerala government.The CPI in association with other left parties will organise a nationwide bandh on May 30, demanding a rollback on the price hike, he said.He also sought the support from the TDP, Lok Satta and TRS for the bandh.The CPI leader wanted the government postpone the TET exam.