Maharashtra: Vijay Wadettiwar demands exemption of 4-wheelers and light vehicles from toll tax

Vijay Wadettiwar/ Pic/PTI Screengrab

Senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar has called for the Maharashtra government to consider exempting four-wheelers and light motor vehicles from paying toll taxes within the state, a PTI report stated. This proposal comes on the heels of a warning from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, who threatened to set toll booths on fire if small vehicles were not excluded from toll charges.

Addressing reporters in Nagpur, Wadettiwar emphasized, "Deputy chief minister (Devendra Fadnavis) has clearly stated that the government does not levy toll fees on four-wheelers and light motor vehicles. It is essential that this exemption is properly implemented, as toll collection is currently in effect at the toll booths."

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Wadettiwar advocated for the exemption of toll charges for four-wheelers and light vehicles at all toll booths throughout Maharashtra.

Furthermore, Wadettiwar criticized the Eknath Shinde-led administration for recruiting staff in various government departments, including agriculture, health, revenue, and police, on a contractual basis. He raised questions about the implications of such appointments, stating that candidates might face uncertainties after their contract periods conclude. He asserted that such methods of recruitment for pivotal government roles were unconventional and warned that the youth of the state would express their discontent.

"What will the candidates do after the contract period ends? The recruitment for important posts in government departments was never done in this manner in the past," he said and added, "I want to assure the youth in the state that if we (Maha Vikas Aghadi) come to power again, then the government will cancel all the contractual appointments and recruit the staff directly."

Wadettiwar pledged to the state's youth that if the Maha Vikas Aghadi, a coalition of opposition parties, were to come to power again, the government would nullify all contractual appointments and instead recruit staff through direct means.

In another context, India's ranking at 111th out of 125 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2023 was mentioned. The Union government had previously rejected the index as erroneous and having malicious intent. Responding to this, Wadettiwar referred to the prime minister's announcement of providing free ration to 80 crore people and suggested that such measures indicated the current state of poverty in the country. This statement raises questions about the efficacy of policies aimed at addressing hunger and food security in India.

With PTI inputs