‘Fuel prices will not be under GST ambit’: Ajit Pawar

In a recent meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council with the main motive of discussing the proposal for bringing down the fuel prices which has risen its all-time high. This move of minimising fuel prices was opposed by Deputy Chief Minister Ait Pawar, handling the finance portfolio of the state.

 

He stated that the current system of tax should not be changed in a way to maintain financial autonomy for the states already in financial loss due to Covid 19 pandemic. The demand he made was from the Centre to reduce the taxes which have been imposed on fuel so that it provides relief to the citizens from inflation and price hikes.

 

As Pawar could not attend the meeting, held in Lucknow, he stated that he had insisted on conducting the meet online was not accepted. “After octroi, there was LBT for the revenue purposed for the local bodies, then was the implementation of LBT. After it GST was introduced, after which most of the things have started falling under the control of the Centre government which makes it very clear that we should keep these powers with the Centre as they need to run the entire country on this tax system,” Further he also stated that however, the Centre is moving slowly towards the power of the states to have full control on imposition of taxes.

 

“The development work has been impacted a lot from this imposition, there is need for autonomy for as to explore new sources for revenue which plays a very important role as well,” he stated. In this current time, people are struggling from inflation and rise in fuel price, with the state government too worrying about it. It is our demand from the Centre to reduce its taxes on fuel to get relief from inflation. “ Further, he stated that the promises made by the Central government before GST was bought should be fulfilled.

 

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