The State government on Thursday reiterated its decision not to bring liquor and fuel under the purview of the Goods and Services Tax regime.
Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar told the Assembly that revenue from the sale of liquor and fuel was necessary to protect the State’s financial sustainability.
Replying to DMK legislator K. Karthikeyan (Rishivandiyam), who raised the issue in the House, Mr. Jayakumar said the revenue from liquor and fuel was also needed to boost infrastructure in the State such as roads.
During the debate, Commercial Taxes Minister K.C. Veeramani claimed though the AIADMK strongly opposed the GST regime until a day before its imposition, the “the tax was forced upon the State, like NEET”.
Addressing concerns raised by Congress MLA H. Vasanthakumar (Nanguneri), DMK members P. Moorthy (Madurai East) and Anitha R. Radhakrishnan (Tiruchendur) that the GST severely affected the traders, Mr. Veeramani said there had been 27 meetings of the GST Council so far. Since they [the meetings] were an ongoing process, issues could be taken up with the Council for resolution, he added.
A total of 46 demands of the State government were before the GST Council, Mr. Jayakumar said. When he criticised the DMK for having supported the GST, DMK MLA K. Ponmudi (Tirukoilur) questioned as to why the AIADMK eventually accepted the GST if it had reservations.
As for the concerns raised by DMK Deputy floor leader Duraimurugan that traders were being harassed by officers over e-way bill, Mr. Veeramani said officers were not harassing any trader unnecessarily. He urged more traders to register themselves so that they would come under the purview of the GST regime and become eligible for benefits such as loans.