‘Why should we pay for Games?’

Already reeling under rising prices, the verdict of the people of Delhi on finance minister A K Walia’s budget was clear — that the government was making them pay to meet the escalating cost of hosting the Commonwealth Games. There was an outcry over the government’s move to increase prices of basic commodities like LPG, tea, coffee, utensils, desi ghee etc.

Ritu Arora, who works in HDFC Bank, feels that even if the government felt the need to increase taxes, it should have left out products of daily need like tea, LPG and ghee.

Said Arora: ‘‘The lower middle class will be the worst-affected. The middle class, on the other hand, will also have to struggle to make ends meet.’’

‘‘The price hike will obviously increase people’s troubles. Living in the city is already quite expensive for us and now it’s going to be worse. This government protects the rich people’s interest only and completely disregards the poor,’’ said T R Sharma, a retired government employee.

According to Delhiites, while their salaries have stagnated, the prices of basic commodities keep on rising as a result of which they are being made to spend every paisa that they earn.

Complained Vijay Singh, who works as a network engineer: ‘‘Right from vegetables to LPG, everything is more expensive now. But our salaries have not increased at the same pace. The government should have increased the prices of luxury products only.’’

Ritu Kapoor, who is a homemaker, was angry: ‘‘Why should we pay for the Commonwealth Games? After this, it will not be possible for me to survive on my monthly budget. We all dream of sending our children to private schools, but with the escalating costs, how will we be able to ensure a better future for them?’’

Meanwhile, with the budget leading to an increase in the prices of mobile phones and cellphone accessories, Indian Celllar Association national president Pankaj Mohindroo said: ‘‘We are hopeful that the Delhi state government will not go ahead with the increase of VAT from 4% to 12.5% on mobile handsets that are priced greater than Rs 10,000 to avoid trade distortions.’’