Union government has IGST worth Rs 27,000 cr towards states
The Union government has not released to the states integrated goods and services tax (IGST) dues worth Rs 27,000 crore, which, had it been cleared, would have helped in strengthening the country’s economy.
Amit Mitra, the chief advisor to the Bengal chief minister, made this charge at a virtual press conference while responding to BJP Benga unit’s president Sukanta Majumdar’s comment that the Union government has paid its GST dues and so Bengal should now reduce its state taxes on petrol and diesel.
“Where is federalism? The Centre must clear the state’s financial dues,” Dr Mitra said.
Earlier in the day, Majumdar had said that Bengal had been paid dues to the tune of Rs 6,521 crore and the state must respond by giving the people some relief through reducing state taxes on fuels. He gave an ultimatum of 15 days, after which the state BJP would hit the streets.
On Tuesday, Dr Mitra said despite GST and other dues (in lieu of various shared-funding schemes) for Bengal, due to the state’s economic policies under the guidance of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, “GST collection in Bengal has grown by 19.23 per cent against the protected rate of 14 per cent”.
He said Bengal is “in better shape”, proof of which is the state’s better collection: “GST collection is one of the major barometers.”
