Indore: Union minister of state for finance Shiv Pratap Shukla on Monday said that the centre is trying to build consensus on bringing petrol and diesel prices under Goods and Services Tax (GST) but there is no breakthrough so far.
“We have asked GST Council to bring petroleum products under its fold but states did not agree. States are not in favour of bringing petroleum products under GST at present,” Shukla told mediapersons at BJP office. He said petroleum ministry wants to put fuel prices under purview of GST but it is not possible without states’ consent. “But we have not given up. We are trying to convince states,” Shukla said.
Responding to a query, he said that it’s true that in most states BJP led government is in power. “But centre is trying for pan-India consensus on bringing petroleum products into GST fold,” he remarked. Though GST rolled out on July 1 last year, the real estate, crude oil, jet fuel or ATF, natural gas, diesel and petrol were kept out of its purview. This meant that the products continued to attract duties like central excise and VAT.
Answering a query on banning Rs 2000- notes, Shukla said that there is no such proposal now. He said there is no shortage of currency notes. “All ATMs are filled with notes,” he said.
To a query on Karnataka assembly elections, he said BJP will form the government. “We will not require anybody’s support to form government in Karnataka. We will form government on our own,” he said when asked if the BJP will tie up with JDS in case of hung assembly.