Kathmandu. Nepali Congress lawmaker Narayan Dutta Mishra has urged the Finance Minister not to increase taxes on cigarettes and alcohol in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget.
Speaking at the special hour of the National Assembly meeting on Wednesday, he said it would not be appropriate to increase the tax on cigarettes and alcohol to end the arrogance of the traders who are showing shortage in the market by filling goods in new warehouses by increasing the production.
He drew the attention of the government towards preventing leakage in customs in collusion if we look at the past. He said that there is a lot of talk of middlemen in Nepal now.
“The budget is coming. Increasing the tax rate in the budget is also a move. There are traders who keep their goods in new warehouses by increasing production after getting the move to increase the tax rate. Therefore, with folded hands, I request that at least this time the tax on cigarettes and alcohol should not be increased. And let’s look at the businessman’s arrogance. Talking about customs only, only 50 percent of the customs duty is collected and goods are imported using a different route in a big nexus. The government’s attention should be paid to stop the matter. When we are in favour of parliament, we clap on the budget. When you are in the opposition, we say that what kind of a budget is it that does not even change the earnings and full stops. There is a lot of talk of middlemen in Nepal, people working everywhere are needed. Therefore, whether we have a new democracy or not being able to talk or the media sector does not have the time to talk about anything else, there is a lot of talk of middlemen. ’
He stressed the need to end the situation of clapping whatever the government does when it is in favor of parliament and only opposing when it is in opposition.
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