Withdraw toll tax exemption to VVIPs, BJP leader urges Gadkari

Amritsar, July 8

BJP’s Punjab general secretary Jagmohan Singh Raju on Monday urged the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, to withdraw the toll tax exemption given to VVIPs, including ministers, MPs, MLAs and police officers.

“It is compulsory for the common man to pay the toll tax despite the inflation is burning a hole in their pockets. But, these VVIPs who get handsome salaries are exempted from paying it,” he said.

The BJP leader also advocated rationalisation of toll rates for making these more affordable.

In a letter to Gadkari, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi took an “unprecedented” step by prohibiting the use of red lights and hooters on government vehicles in order to eliminate the VIP culture.

He said at every toll barrier in Punjab, a huge green bill board is installed displaying the list of VIPs exempted from paying the toll tax.

Raju said such exemptions hurt the sentiments of people who had to shell out a huge amount for the toll tax.