AGARTALA, Nov 17 (TIWN): Opposition Congress has demanded an immediate down in the VAT charges on aviation turbine fuel in Tripura.

Addressing in a press conference, Tripura Congress President Birjit Sinha said, "Earlier, there were 28 flights travelled from Agartala Airport. Now, it has downed at 20 numbers of flights and now the Indigo is planning to quit. Matter is that for VAT on aviation turbine fuel Tripura is charging 18% whereas other Northeast States as Mizoram 4.5%, Meghalaya 4%, Assam 6%".

"Tripura is already lagging behind in development. In Jawharlal Nehru's Prime Ministry under subsidy four Airports were running including Khowai, Kamalpur, Kailashahar. In for of the Airports daily service were given. Kamalpur to Kailashahar at Rs. 5 the students could travel on that time. Rs. 18 was the charge for Kailashahar-Agartala route. From Kailshahar to Kolkata it was Rs. 65. But all were stopped, but now a Govt (BJP) which is same at Centre and State is pushing all flights to take off permanenty", Sinha said.

"The Chief Ministerv is saying bogusly that he requested so many times, wrote letters. However, first of all we will want that the VAT should be downed at Rs. 4 first of all. Congress belives that's how problems which has been created will be solved", Birjit Sinha told media.