Authority to determine to GST is Centre: Minister
Goods and Services Tax
(GST) rests solely with the Union govt.
"Imposing taxes on small traders will create unnecessary hardship.
It is the Centre's responsibility to address and correct this," he said. Responding to BJP's criticism regarding the issuance of notices to traders by the Commercial Tax Department, Cheluvarayaswamy dismissed the opposition's comments.
"The BJP has neither achievements from the past nor a vision for the future. Their remarks are baseless and lack humanity. The Commercial Tax Department is acting in accordance with Union govt directives," he contended.
The minister also addressed accusations of biased MLA fund distribution. "Every MLA was allotted Rs 50 crore. This allocation isn't linked to the upcoming Assembly session. Even BJP MLAs received Rs 25 crore. When the BJP was in power, Congress MLAs were given nothing. At least now, everyone received some support," he stated.
On BJP's allegation that the state govt is misleading the public by forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Dharmasthala case, Cheluvarayaswamy said, "The SIT was formed following demands from various organisations and activists. There's nothing wrong with launching an investigation—it helps prevent speculation. The BJP is needlessly politicising the issue. I will not entertain their accusations.
"
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
5 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Unspent funds in pollution control scheme to carry over, no discontinuity in works: Environment ministry to Parliament panel
The Union Environment Ministry has told a parliamentary panel that there was no 'discontinuity' in the implementation of the Control of Pollution scheme at ground level, and that funds unspent in the financial year 2024-25 will get carried forward. The Centre's response was noted in the report of the parliamentary standing committee on science and technology, environment, forest and climate change, tabled in Parliament Friday. The ministry was responding to the panel's observations and criticism made in its March report over expenditure of less than 1 per cent of the Rs 858 crore allocated for the scheme, till January 21, 2025. The ministry had previously informed the committee that the funds could not be utilised, as approval for the scheme's continuation was still pending. In response to the committee's observations that fund utilisation during 2024-25 was unsatisfactory, the ministry said, 'The utilisation of funds in FY 2024-25 declined mainly due to allocation of funds for the 'Control of Pollution' scheme in March 2025, by clubbing together of funds for FY 2024-25 and 2025-26. Cabinet approved an amount of Rs 1949.80 crore for FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26 in March 2025, along with the direction that unutilised funds of FY 2024-25 will be carried over/ re-allocated to FY 2025-26.' 'The ministry will take all possible measures like advance planning, preparation and execution of proposals pertaining to 'control of pollution' scheme in a time-bound manner to utilise the budgetary allocation under the scheme,' the committee report noted. The ministry explained that the control of pollution scheme involves providing gap funding support to 82 cities and also allows convergence with existing schemes and programmes. The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) is one of the components of the control of pollution scheme, and other components include providing support to pollution control boards, and monitoring air, water and noise pollution in the country. 'NCAP cities were continuously implementing their city action plans through funds provided under NCAP as well as through convergence of funds from Central and State Govt. schemes and projects included in their respective city action plans. There was no discontinuity in implementation of the scheme at ground level,' the report stated, recording the ministry's response. The ministry added that it has already sanctioned Rs 835.5 crore, out of which an amount of RS 209.64 crore has been released to states and union territories and 82 cities for implementing city action plans, as well as pollution control measures by North Eastern state pollution control boards. Under NCAP, the target is to reduce particulate matter 10 (pollutants smaller than 10 micrometre or less) in 130 cities by 2026. While the 15th Finance Commission funds NCAP for 49 cities with over a million people, 82 cities are funded under the Control of Pollution scheme. In FY 2024-25, the report noted, cities have spent RS 419.35 crore to implement city action plans. The key activities undertaken across 82 cities under NCAP included end-to-end paving of roads covering 60 km in length, dust control on roads covering 700 km in length, mechanical sweeping of roads covering 550 km per day, development of 26 acres of green spaces and waste collection systems with a capacity of 12 tonnes/day. 'Out of 82 cities, 62 cities have shown improvement in air quality in terms of reduction in annual PM10 concentrations in FY 2024-25 with respect to the levels of FY 2017-18. Out of 82 cities, 19 cities have met National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM10 (60 μg/m3) in FY 2024-25,' the report stated. An award-winning journalist with 14 years of experience, Nikhil Ghanekar is an Assistant Editor with the National Bureau [Government] of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily covers environmental policy matters which involve tracking key decisions and inner workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also covers the functioning of the National Green Tribunal and writes on the impact of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry issues and climate change. Nikhil joined The Indian Express in 2024. Originally from Mumbai, he has worked in publications such as Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18 and Indiaspend. In the past 14 years, he has written on a range of subjects such as sports, current affairs, civic issues, city centric environment news, central government policies and politics. ... Read More
India.com
8 minutes ago
- India.com
One Year Of RG Kar Rape Case: Kolkata Police Lathi-Charge Protestors During ‘Nabanna Abhiyan' March
New Delhi: Tensions flared in central Kolkata on Saturday after police resorted to a lathi-charge on protestors participating in a justice march related to the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case. The protestors had planned a high-intensity procession to the West Bengal state secretariat, 'Nabanna', under the banner of the 'Nabanna Chalo Abhiyan'. The demonstration, led by senior leaders Suvendu Adhikari and Agnimitra Paul, marked the anniversary of the horrific incident at RG Kar Medical College, where a female doctor was brutally raped and murdered last year inside the hospital premises. The protest quickly escalated into a confrontation after authorities attempted to halt the procession. A large section of protestors joined the march demanding justice for the victim. Slogans were raised condemning the incident, calling for accountability, and demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The victim's parents urged the public to support the march, and Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, called on BJP workers to join the protest without carrying any party flags or symbols. Adhikari, accompanied by several BJP MLAs, stood in solidarity with the victim's parents at Dorina Crossing in Esplanade, Central Kolkata—visibly absent were any BJP banners or insignia. 'The Mamata Banerjee administration is afraid of the massive turnout demanding justice,' said Adhikari during the march. Protestors were seen carrying the national Tricolour along with posters and banners seeking justice for the RG Kar victim. In anticipation of the march, authorities made massive security arrangements. Heavy police deployment, Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel, and water cannons were stationed at strategic locations. Drones were used for aerial surveillance. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were enforced in areas surrounding Nabanna. Multi-layer barricades were set up at key intersections across Kolkata and Howrah, and traffic movement on both the Howrah Bridge and Vidyasagar Setu over the Hooghly River was suspended to prevent the agitators from advancing. The RG Kar incident continues to trigger public outrage, with this march underscoring the demand for justice and highlighting mounting criticism of the state administration.
News18
23 minutes ago
- News18
Chaos Erupts At RG Kar Protest, Victim's Mother Says Police Roughed Her Up Without Provocation
Last Updated: Chaos erupted in Kolkata as police clashed with protesters led by parents of a young female doctor raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College last year. Chaos erupted in Kolkata after police personnel clashed with protesters as parents of a young female doctor, who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last year, led a march to the West Bengal secretariat (Nabanna) on Saturday. Victim's Mother Assault Allegation Meanwhile, the mother of the victim has alleged that she was roughed up by women police personnel while on her way to join the march, which was called to mark one year of the rape and murder of her daughter in the state-run hospital. She claimed that in the scuffle, her ' shankha ' (traditional conch shell bangle) was broken and she sustained a head injury. #WATCH | Kolkata | West Bengal Police deploys lathi charge at protestors during the 'Nabanna Abhiyan' rally. The rally has been called to mark the one-year anniversary of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder. — ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2025 PTI quoted her as saying. The rally participants demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for "failing to protect women". Protest In Kolkata The rally descended into chaos as protesters attempted to break through the barricades and tried to march towards the secretariat despite police warnings, and were lathi-charged by the police. A section of protestors taking part in a march reached Santragachi in Howrah district and attempted to breach the iron wall barricades set up by the city police there. As part of the 'Nabanna Chalo Abhiyan', the protestors raised slogans for justice for the RG Kar victim and voiced their resolve to reach the state secretariat, irrespective of the blockades put up by the police. 'The police can fire upon us, but we are determined to reach 'Nabanna', where the state government must answer why justice has not been delivered to Abhaya (RG Kar victim) even after one year," a protestor said as quoted by the news agency. The protestors were seen carrying the Tricolour besides posters and banners demanding justice for the victim and the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Additionally, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, along with BJP leader Agnimitra Paul and other party MLAs held a sit-in at the Park Street-J L Nehru Road crossing, while alleging that more than 100 protesters, including Adhikari and other BJP leaders, were injured in police action. Adhikari also claimed that the parents of the RG Kar victim were injured during the lathi charge. Crowds were found swelling at both the assembly points in Howrah and Kolkata, with the state police not allowing the protestors to reach anywhere close to the West Bengal secretariat. What Happened At RG Kar Hospital? On August 9 last year, the 31-year-old postgraduate trainee's body was discovered inside the Chest Medicine Department's seminar hall on the fourth floor of the hospital's emergency building. The nature of her injuries, which indicated brutality, and the fact that it happened within a state-run hospital, sent shock waves across West Bengal and beyond. Widespread protests erupted across campuses, drawing students, doctors, and civil society to the streets. The Kolkata police initially investigated the case, before the Calcutta High Court transferred the probe to the CBI. A civic volunteer, Sanjoy Roy, was found guilty of rape and murder by a Kolkata court in January 2025, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. But the victim's family and several rights activists insist the case is far from closed. Two other arrests followed — Sandip Ghosh, the then principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, and Abhijit Mondal, former officer-in-charge of Tala police station, on charges of misleading the probe. But Mondal was released on bail after the CBI failed to file a charge sheet within 90 days. (With inputs from agencies) view comments First Published: August 09, 2025, 16:13 IST News kolkata-news Chaos Erupts At RG Kar Protest, Victim's Mother Says Police Roughed Her Up Without Provocation Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
