Shimla, Aug. 13 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cornered Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government on Wednesday over levy of widow and orphan cess of 60 paise per litre on petrol and high-speed diesel, with the levy coming into force from midnight on August 11 in Himachal Pradesh. The state government is justifying the imposition of the cess to support welfare measures concerning widows and orphaned children. The notification was issued on Tuesday after the Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed by the Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly during the budget session earlier this year. Launching a scathing attack on the state government, former chief minister and leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said, "The CM is running a government characterised by the imposition of levies in the name of 'Sukh' (welfare/happiness). The Congress made grand claims to gain power, yet upon assuming office, it launched a campaign to burden the public in various ways. After raising VAT twice, a cess of 60 paise has now been imposed on petrol and diesel to put an additional financial burden on the common man". In a scathing attack, Jai Ram said, "Attempts are being made to run the government by collecting money from the public under the guise of an 'orphan and widow cess.' We had stated in the legislative assembly that taxes on petroleum have a far-reaching impact, causing the prices of all commodities to rise. At that time, the CM had assured the House that this was merely a provision and that they did not intend to implement it. However, true to form, his claim proved false". He added, "Himachal is a mountainous state where transportation and supply chains rely entirely on road networks. Consequently, this hike in diesel and petrol prices will severely affect the common man". BJP state chief spokesperson and MLA Rakesh Jamwal said, "The Sukhu government has made taxes, cesses and additional financial burdens its primary response to the state's economic problems". "In 2023 alone, the Congress government increased the VAT burden on diesel by Rs.6 per litre in two stages. Now, it has gone a step further by imposing a fresh 60-paise-per-litre cess on both petrol and high-speed diesel," Jamwal said. He said that the decision to impose widow and orphan cess would particularly affect farmers, horticulturists, taxi operators, transporters, small traders, the middle class and families constructing their homes. He said "Welfare of orphans and widows is a sensitive and important responsibility of the government. But every welfare programme cannot become an excuse to impose a new tax or cess on the people. The government must improve its financial management instead of repeatedly reaching into the pockets of ordinary citizens."...