AKHILESH FLAYS BSP FOR BACKING GST

Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday expressed strong reservations over the NDA government’s moves to implement the Goods and Services Tax (GST). He also attacked the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for having pledged support to the GST Bill without even assessing how the new tax regime would affect Uttar Pradesh. “Traders are agitated over implementation of the GST,” the chief minister told journalists after a state cabinet meeting here.

LUCKNOW: Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday expressed strong reservations over the NDA government’s moves to implement the Goods and Services Tax (GST). He also attacked the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for having pledged support to the GST Bill without even assessing how the new tax regime would affect Uttar Pradesh.

“Traders are agitated over implementation of the GST. The norms for refunds to be made to the states are yet to be worked out. The BSP has decided to support it without knowing the impact of the new tax regime on the state,” the chief minister told journalists after a state cabinet meeting here.

“The BSP appears unconcerned about the issues concerning Uttar Pradesh. It has decided not to make any more memorials and parks. The party, however, went into agitation mode over the damage to the wall of a memorial here.”

Yadav also said though Uttar Pradesh had got additional funds following implementation of the 14th Finance Commission recommendations, the centre’s move to discontinue some centrally sponsored schemes had adversely affected the state.

He said he had written several letters to central leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on various issues concerning the state. “I will soon write to all the MPs from the state about the issues mentioned therein and make all these letters available to them. This will enable the MPs to raise these issues in the ongoing session of Parliament,” he said.

The chief minister attacked the centre for not releasing funds to assist farmers whose crops were damaged by heavy rains and hailstorm early this year. He said the state government was extending all the help to the farmers.

Asked about a Central team’s plans to visit the drought-affected areas, the chief minister said the state government had declared certain districts drought hit and was getting ready to help the farmers if the situation turned more serious.