Resolve all GST-related issues: Capt to Centre

AMARINDER EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER DWINDLING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STATES FROM THE CENTRE

CHANDIGARH: Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday demanded more resources for states to facilitate their overall development, while urging the central government to resolve all GST-related issues at the earliest to ensure that the states do not continue to suffer because of delayed release of the payment.

Pointing that numerous amendments introduced so far in the GST Act, the CM said, it appeared that the Centre had not through the new tax system before implementing it.

Punjab had been repeatedly raising the issue of delayed GST payment with the central government but had got nothing except deadlines, he added, flaying the Centre for holding up states’ share under GST.

Addressing a session “Union of States” at India Economic Summit in New Delhi, and talking informally to mediapersons later, Amarinder expressed concern over the dwindling financial assistance to states from the Centre. He observed that at one point in time the distribution of funds used to be in the ratio of 90:10, which now had gone down drastically.

The reducing pattern of devolution of taxes between the state and the Centre was a matter of grave concern, he said, asking, “Why should I be borrowing for fulfilling my statutory obligations like salaries?”

Earlier, speaking at the summit, Amarinder said that the Centre could not absolve itself of its responsibility in taking states like Punjab, which have for ages borne the burden of feeding the nation, forward on the path of development.