Buckling under the pressure of local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi, Punjab Government has decided to reduce the value added tax (VAT) on spices, and the decision would receive final nod in the next Cabinet meeting, scheduled for August 10.
“In the upcoming Cabinet meeting, the State Government would reduce VAT on haldi, jeera, etc…Chief Minister has assured me in the earlier Cabinet on this matter,” said Joshi, on the sidelines of BJP’s exercise of listening to problems of the party workers.
Joshi said there was a dire need to remove tax on these commodities as these were people’s daily and basic need.
“After this issue was raised in the last Cabinet, the Chief Minister assured me that this agenda would be included and the promised to reduce the taxes would be fulfilled in the next Cabinet meeting on august 10,” said Joshi.
Once approved, there will be no VAT on turmeric, while the tax on other spices will be reduced from 6.5 to four percent.
The senior BJP leader had revolted during the previous Cabinet meeting, held on July 29, for not including the agenda regarding reducing VAT on spices, including turmeric, black pepper, coriander and cumin.
It has been learnt that after Joshi strongly opposed and threatened to walk out of the meeting for ignoring his long-pending demand and not including the same in the Cabinet agenda for the day, the Council of Ministers have in-principle agreed for the same.
It was only after Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal assured Joshi that the agenda would be included in the next cabinet for sure that he agreed to attend the meeting.
Joshi has, since long, been raising this issue, and was even assured by the Chief Minister and also State Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa. The issue has been lingering since the Budget Session, in which Joshi had sought reduction in VAT on spices. Dhindsa had then accepted the proposal while concluding the debate on the budgetary proposals on March 19.
“I raised this issue during the Budget session and the Chief Minister approved it. Then Finance Minister Dhindsa also formally announced it. But, nothing has been done in this regard since March,” said Joshi.
He insisted the Government should implement “every promise it makes with the people as soon as possible as it helps in building trust of the people in its government”.
Tiranga Yatra
Chandigarh: The saffron brigade in Punjab is all set to take out ‘Tiranga Yatra’ across the State to mark India’s 70th Independence Day.
Via this week-long yatra, from August 15 to 22, the BJP would also inform the people about 70 achievements of the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre.
“On the directions of the party high command, Tringa Yatra would also be held in Punjab, along with India from August 15,” said State BJP chief Vijay Sampla. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has only recently asked party’s Parliamentarians to take out ‘Tiranga Yatras’ in their constituencies to mark India’s 70th Independence Day and inform people about 70 achievements of his Government.
Modi had asked the MPs to hold yatras on bikes while carrying Tricolours hoisted on eight-foot tall masts.