[v1p3r]

Originally Posted by yesyeswe

So what does a small group of educated people can do? Apart from getting frustrated and discussing among some like minded friends.

Emigration is a popular option. Just ask Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia!

[RoadMonkey]

Originally Posted by Spaced Out

Come sir. Which majority in India thinks rebuilding government offices is an acceptable idea? I am no American style Republican but we can certainly downsize government.

If people don't accept it, at least tacitly, it wouldn't be happening. India still remains a democracy where you can raise a voice and those making the decisions, if they think they risk losing the votes, won't be carrying out these things.

Similarly, go to the NDMC community centre in Jor Bagh - see the government facilities there (tennis court / gym) and tell me that there is no elite capture of government services.

I don't recall saying that doesn't exist, what does your point address here? I agree with the general sentiment of your post. Public money is in irresponsible hands and is spent wastefully. Perhaps quotation marks around the "welfare" in my original post would've made it clear. I didn't actually was talking about that but all the wasteful expenditure that goes on in the name of necessary govt expenditure, as you've demonstrated yourself.

[kiku007]

Is this thread discussing about the same country that's being discussed in the following thread?

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shift...recession.html (India is now officially in recession)



How could fuel prices rise in a low crude oil price + de-regulated fuel price + recession scenario?

I really feel bad for the people. Reading about the State head's visit to a temple town in a brand new jet is like adding salt to the wound. It's one thing not to heal the wound but putting salt on it is at a different level.

Makes one wonder if a certain country is a democracy or under a dictatorship or monarchy.

[rakesh_r]

Originally Posted by poloman

We are always vocal about the plight of poor, but don't want our savings to be touched or taxed. Where is the govt expected to pull in money for welfare schemes with tax and revenue collection at all time low? Are any of us ok with a pandemic surcharge?

My 74 year old father has no pension (even though he worked for Air India) and the only source of income is the rent that he gets from one of his properties, still has to pay Income Tax. With no senior citizen benefits (medical etc), yes it makes me cringe when the govt squeezes us of our hard earned money just to spend on useless concrete structures when the country is reeling with Inflation.
Look at the state of the roads in Maharashtra, we pay tax on fuel to drive cars, pay toll to use the so called roads, end up at the service centre replacing the parts (for which we again pay tax) which got damaged after driving over those pathetic so called roads.
Sorry for going OT, mods are free to delete the post.

[sumeethaldankar]

Originally Posted by rakesh_r

Look at the state of the roads in Maharashtra, we pay tax on fuel to drive cars, pay toll to use the so called roads, end up at the service centre replacing the parts (for which we again pay tax) which got damaged after driving over those pathetic so called roads.

This is true. We should not be spending money on statues and things alike when basic necessities (decent roads/bridges/adeqaute hostpitals etc) are not provided. The pandemic threw light on how at a time there were no adeqaute beds for patients who came in droves to hospitals. When all such things are met the government should think about beautifying the states and other luxury items.

[HVSC]

All the shots taken at the central government while clearly aware of the fact that taxes on fuel are majority levied by states and the roads inside cities are also a state subject. I am not going to defend the present government but would definitely want to bring this discussion to a more realistic level. Otherwise, we have news channels barking from both sides 24/7 whats one more discussion on the same line.

People quickly forget that they live in a country with 130cr population out of which 50-60% relies on agriculture while contributing only 15-20% to the GDP.

We don't want to taxed but at the same time, we would stand against privatization of inefficient government companies/schemes/culture.

Complaining about corporates, one has to realize that size of corporates in India is nothing compared to the sizes in developed countries. You can't be demonizing corporates while dreaming of moving to economies that have even larger corporate presence.

We live in a bubble where our monthly salaries and the properties made/bought by our parents/ourselves allow us to type all these things on a laptop while forgetting that there is a vast majority who doesn't have access to these things.

[anb]

Originally Posted by HVSC

All the shots taken at the central government while clearly aware of the fact that taxes on fuel are majority levied by states and the roads inside cities are also a state subject.

It’s the centre govt who increased excise duty of diesel by 258 percent, that too by increasing special excise duty so that state govt will not get the benefit. The centre govt has the power to control the fuel price hike. When there was Bihar election, there was no increase fuel prices. The prices were hiked immediately after election. Before 2014, UPA govt was solely responsible for fuel price hike.Since 2014, state govt has to take responsibility

Also I don’t understand why there is a proposal for toll collection whenever centre spends some amount in building a new bye pass ( Trivandrum, Kollam,Alapuzha) and no toll when state govt builds a new bye pass ( Thiruvalla,Adoor, Changanacherry, Etumanoor )

[SuhairZain]

With an average fill of 24.18L per fill, I paid 300Rs for the same quantity of fuel compared to May 5.

[DudeWithaFiat]

Originally Posted by Jhinchak

By heavily taxing the charging stations being set up in the highways. Imagine paying 20-25 rupees per minute for charging. we will end up paying the same amount.

EV users will probably have to use the charging stations only during their once-a-while long trips. Most of the times, it is only enough to simply charge the car overnight once in 3 or 4 days at home.

[v1p3r]

Originally Posted by HVSC

All the shots taken at the central government while clearly aware of the fact that taxes on fuel are majority levied by states

I don't think this is correct. I have seen data to the contrary. Can you please share the source of your information?

Originally Posted by HVSC

We don't want to taxed but at the same time, we would stand against privatization of inefficient government companies/schemes/culture.

We don't want to be taxed to death. There's a subtle yet distinct difference.

Originally Posted by HVSC

We live in a bubble where our monthly salaries and the properties made/bought by our parents/ourselves allow us to type all these things on a laptop while forgetting that there is a vast majority who doesn't have access to these things.

Yes, and we pay for this bubble with effective tax rates of over 50% in some cases. What does our bubble have to do with this thread?

I hope people realise that cab drivers, delivery people, and others who depend on their vehicle and urban travel for livelihood are going to see a significant proportion of their salary eaten away. This has been going on for the last year. Spare a thought for them.

I fully expect that this will be spun as a 'masterstroke' and a 'surgical strike' on fossil fuels. There will be the usual bunch of supporters, and the rest of us will shrug our shoulders and bear it.

[sunny29584]

Originally Posted by Thilak29

What a daylight robbery! 50 plus rupee tax for per liter fuel

After seeing the price hike, I am seriously considering selling one of the car and replacing with EV - then use roof top solar to power it up. Long drives have become far too less these days anyway.

Check this:

Kerala Doctor Runs Tata Nexon EV Using Solar Power:
https://trak.in/tags/business/2020/1...o-run-his-car/

Aptera is back with a new EV it says doesn’t need charging:
https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/6/2...arging-vehicle

[sunny29584]

buying a car is a criminal offence it seems

- Road tax for Road
- Toll for driving on that Road
- GST at highest slab for buying
- Excise Duty + Taxes at 50 INR per liter.

I feel shifting to EV wont help as in long run as that is where the revenue compensation will happen for loss in Petrol/Diesel. It is no more about the importerd inflation or import costs.

[ZenMaster]

Our Indian politicians are some of the most intelligent and cunning in the world. Yet, the only thing they find worthwhile using all their intelligence and knowledge about money, business and laws is to use it on inventing new ways of corruptions and making money through under the table deals , cronyinsm, siphoning of money from pulic schemes and their mafia like side businesses where they make money at the cost of others

And the the only way they can ever think of to gather funds for the country is to tax the heck out of essential commodities like fuel that people can't live without(directly or indirectly).

If only they used 10% of their intelligence they use for innovative ways of corruption and political hijacks, our country would have been already been the developed wealthy country which everyone always claims they will make it in the "next 10 years" , for the last 25 - 30 years.

[frewper]

I dont know what we all are complaining against exactly on this thread.

What is so surprising if the fuel prices are at 90 bucks. I wont be surprised if even the fuel prices are 100 bucks in the next 1.5 years.

This all is because of the Govt policies and the socialistic govt structure that we have. If the govt policies are all aimed at giving subsidies on every aspect from free electricity to free water to whatever free we know about, someone needs to cough up the money. Where else can we get the money, people who can pay up.

If you drive a car then payup when you fill up. If you decide to have food at 5 star restaurant, pay up more. If you buy frozen foods for cooking then pay up 18% tax for having dinner at home. And who are the typical buyer for frozen food, people who are working class and end up with less time to cook their own food. Can be from doctors, lawyers, corporate, administrators etc.

Do note that even though GST has been introduced, VAT and Excise taxes still exist, it goes into fuel and other beverages. Doing business in India is still difficult. Starting up something, unnecessary compliances are too many.

All this is paid by the middle, upper and higher families who at every level work very hard to provide for their families, because they the higher consumers of fuel and also pay their taxes diligently.

I am not against any taxes. Even being in the top tax brackets, I know we are not as high as that as France (50% approx) or some some other Europeans countries. But what irks me is that our govt doesn't do anything for the tax payers, is that they dont have any policies that will help us. Ex. England has the NHS which makes sure no man, woman or child irrespective of their social standing is given world class health benefits.

So if the fuel prices are 90 today, it just a part of the entire govt policy structure that makes it that. And we might as well must have voted for it.

Ohh and by the time electric cars become main stream, I wont be surprised if the electricity charges will be different(higher) for charging cars, than the domestic rates.

[pawank]

Originally Posted by anb

The centre govt has the power to control the fuel price hike. When there was Bihar election, there was no increase fuel prices.

This is a general trend, not a law. State government can increase or decrease their VAT too. Excise duty is around 32-33 rupees while VAT is around 17 rupees in many states. Both centre and state have their fair share in looting the people when the opportunity came.