No relief from taxes in Delhi

The Sheila Dikshit government in Delhi is determined to push through hikes in tariffs and taxes on commodities and services under its control, undeterred by the burden of rising food prices on household budgets.

After steeply increasing DTC bus fares and water tariff, the government, at a cabinet meeting on Saturday, cleared amendments to two draft bills aimed at hiking value-added (VAT) and entertainment and betting taxes. The bills will be tabled in the winter session from December 9.

The government has been emboldened by the virtually non-existent opposition. Given its comfortable assembly majority, the clearance of the bills is certain.