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News18
2 days ago
- Business
- News18
'Looting In Name Of GST': Notices To Karnataka Vendors Trigger Political Slugfest
Last Updated: Small and micro traders across Karnataka had objected to receiving GST notices linked to their UPI transactions. The BJP and JDS slammed the Congress government over the move. A political slugfest has erupted over GST notices issued to small traders and vendors on their UPI transactions in Karnataka, with the Opposition BJP and JDS accusing the Congress government of trying to pass on the blame to the Centre. A section of small and micro traders across the state had objected to receiving GST notices linked to their UPI transactions, and traders' associations asked the businesses to boycott UPI transactions. They had also called for a statewide strike on July 25. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah later announced that the government won't recover tax from them. Siddaramaiah said he held a meeting with small traders and discussed the notices. 'I called a meeting with small traders and others to discuss the issue of notices being issued to small traders, as notices were being issued to those with a turnover of more than Rs 40 lakh," he said. 'Around 9000 notices were issued. The central government has decided to impose a one per cent tax on these individuals… There was confusion among small traders about this…Traders dealing in exempt goods shall not be registered compulsarily…Old tax arrears would not be pursued…The delegation has agreed to withdraw the agitation called on July 25," the Chief Minister added. 'All these days, #TaxCM @siddaramaiah loudly claimed that the state government was not responsible for imposing taxes on small traders — blaming the central government instead, and saying taxation wasn't the state's domain. But now, he has announced that taxes will not be collected from small traders. This clearly proves that the @INCKarnataka government was the one imposing heavy taxes — running a loot in the name of GST, with traders receiving tax notices worth lakhs," BJP Karnataka tweeted. JDS, a BJP ally, also slammed the Congress government over the issue, however, welcomed the government's step to withdraw the notices. '@Siddaramaiah, who had been dismissing claims and saying that the state government had not issued notices to small traders, has finally admitted the truth. The Congress government, which had started collecting what people are calling the #GuaranteeSiddaramaiahTax in the name of GST to fill the empty treasury, has been forced to wake up after facing backlash from small traders and the public. In connection with the GST notices sent to small traders by the Commercial Taxes Department, the Chief Minister held a meeting to avoid further embarrassment," JDS tweeted. view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 20:56 IST 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.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Congress will retain power in 2028, Vijayendra's chair is shaky, says CM Siddaramaiah
PAVAGADA (TUMAKURU DISTRICT) : Days after asserting that he will remain the state's chief minister for the rest of his term, Siddaramaiah on Monday said that the Congress will retain power in 2028 by defeating the BJP and JDS. He was speaking after inaugurating the Rs 2,529 crore project implemented to provide drinking water to Pavagada, Challakere, Molakalmuru, Kudligi, Hosapete, and parts of Chitradurga from the backwaters of the Tungabhadra dam. He went on to appeal to the voters of Pavagada to elect the incumbent Congress MLA Venkatesh once again in 2028. He also took a dig at state BJP president BY Vijayendra. 'Vijayendra expects snap polls, which will not be possible as people have given the Congress a five-year mandate. I doubt whether Vijayendra will remain in his post in 2028, as his seat is shaky,' the CM said. He said that the BJP and JDS were spreading misinformation about the state's finances as they 'are jealous about the success of the five guarantees.' 'When we called for a debate, Vijayendra told us to call for fresh elections. Our government will be in power for five years. We are not afraid of elections, as we will win even if they are conducted now. Vijayendra's chair is shaky, and he does not know whether he will be in his post till 2028 or not,' the CM said.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CM Siddaramaiah challenges BJP-JDS to debate on development; slams ‘false propaganda'
MYSURU: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday challenged the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) for a debate to know about who has contributed how much towards the state's development. Accusing the Opposition of false propaganda, Siddaramaiah said BJP and JDS should stop misleading people. Siddaramaiah was addressing a mega convention, Sadhana Samavesha, organised by his government, where development works worth Rs 2,578 crore for Mysuru were inaugurated and foundation stones laid. 'I wish the BJP and JDS leaders had come for the event to see the programmes we have launched,' he said, asking the Opposition if the State Government was bankrupt as claimed by them owing to the guarantees, then how will they launch Rs 2,578 crore worth projects. Clarifying that the event was not a show of strength of Siddaramaiah, the Chief Minister said that the government has exhibited to the people the strength of development through the samavesha. He said that the BJP had never come to power on its own and had always gotten back door entry through Operation Lotus. Recalling that the JDS had won 59 seats under his leadership, it has now been reduced to 18 seats. 'JDS is losing its strength every five years and will never come to power in the state. Knowing that they are losing their base and sheen, JDS has joined hands with BJP and won just two seats in the 2024 Parliamentary polls. 'NDA won 19 seats in Karnataka. But its leaders like HD Kumaraswamy, Basavaraj Bommai and Pralhad Joshi have not raised their voice against the injustice meted out to the state in the devolution of taxes. The Centre has just given us Rs 65,000 crore as against Rs 4.5 lakh crore in taxes,' the CM said. He criticised PM Narendra Modi and the BJP for 'copying the guarantee schemes of Karnataka' and implementing them in Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, and now in poll-bound Bihar. 'We are focusing on the 90 per cent of the population, whereas the BJP is worried about the 10 per cent population from the upper caste and the rich, as they are against social justice and the Constitution,' he said.
News18
17-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Horse-Trading In Karnataka? Ruling Congress, BJP Accuse Each Other Of Plotting Defections
Karnataka Congress claims leaders caught between BJP's Vijayendra and JDS's Kumaraswamy sending feelers. Congress is buying its own MLAs to keep CM post intact, says BJP There may not be an election in sight, but Karnataka's political atmosphere is heating up as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claims the Congress is luring MLAs to settle the leadership struggle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar. The Congress, in turn, has hit back, saying that 10 to 15 MLAs from the BJP-Janata Dal Secular alliance are knocking on its doors, wanting to jump ship. Senior minister and Industries Minister MB Patil claimed that several disgruntled MLAs from the saffron alliance were 'keen to join" the Congress. Patil said, 'We have over 140 MLAs in the Congress now. The BJP's dream of bringing down the Congress won't be realised, as at least 80-85 MLAs have to defect for that. In 2019, they [the BJP] managed to get 19 MLAs to defect to their side and help them form the government. But it won't happen again. What Operation Lotus are you talking about? It is their MLAs who are knocking on our doors now." A senior Congress leader said that while there have been several feelers from a section of BJP leaders to the Congress, there are BJP leaders who are fed up with the constant infighting in the party, especially from the factions caught between BJP's Vijayendra and JDS's H D Kumaraswamy. 'Even within the JDS, there's growing frustration under H D Kumaraswamy's leadership. There are MLAs who want to jump ship and are waiting in the wings—it may be just a matter of time," said a senior Congress functionary. Joshi was reacting to a claim made by Hungund Congress MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar, who said the BJP had drawn up a list of 55 Congress MLAs it was targeting. Kashappanavar said the BJP was threatening MLAs with central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to get them to defect. Joshi denied this outright and turned the charge around: 'It is the Congress that is busy buying its own MLAs to keep the CM post intact. Kashappanavar's statements are false and only meant to hide the internal dealings going on within their party," Joshi said. Operation Kamala déjà vu? The accusations have revived memories of Operation Kamala—the BJP's infamous but effective strategy of engineering defections. First executed in 2008, it helped BS Yediyurappa form the government by getting opposition MLAs to resign, contest again on BJP tickets, and win with a big margin. It was pulled off again in 2019—this time bringing down the Congress-JDS coalition government of H D Kumaraswamy. As many as 19 Congress MLAs and 3 from the JD(S) resigned, collapsing the 14-month-old government and paving the way for the BJP's return, once again under the leadership of B.S. Yediyurappa. He was later replaced mid-term by Basavaraj Bommai. Earlier claims In August last year, Congress MLA Ravikumar Gowda from Mandya made a sensational claim: the BJP had upped its offer to MLAs from Rs 50 crore to Rs 100 crore. 'Someone called me and said they were ready to buy 50 MLAs at Rs 100 crore. I told him to keep the money—I even thought of complaining to the ED," Gowda had said. 'They're trying every day to destabilise our government, but no one's falling for it. Our government is stable, our CM is strong," he insisted when speaking to this reporter. In November 2023, Patil had once again stirred the pot by claiming that more than 20 BJP MLAs and around 10 from the JDS were ready to join the Congress. This came right after HD Kumaraswamy offered to support Shivakumar with 19 MLAs if he wanted to take over as CM. However, political equations have since changed—Kumaraswamy and Shivakumar are now arch-rivals, and Kumaraswamy is a Union Minister, with his JDS now in alliance with the BJP. First Published: News politics Horse-Trading In Karnataka? Ruling Congress, BJP Accuse Each Other Of Plotting Defections 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.
New Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
BJP, JDS term Congress's Randeep Singh Surjewala as Karnataka's ‘Super CM'
BENGALURU, MYSURU: The opposition BJP and JDS have termed AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala as Karnataka's super CM, who is holding a series of meetings with ministers to review their performance. 'Congratulations to Shri @rssurjewala for assuming the role of Karnataka's super CM. The elected Chief Minister has been given a GPA to run the government,' JDS leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy stated on social media platform 'X'. Nikhil said the democratically elected Congress MLAs are now rallying around Surjewala for the development of their constituencies. 'Siddaramaiah is stepping down, DK Shivakumar is waiting for the chair, but Surjewala is already governing. Congress is turning Karnataka into a puppet state, mocking the federal system and democracy,' the JDS leader said. Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka wondered if Surjewala's rule is imposed in Karnataka and if he will also chair Thursday's cabinet meeting. Ashoka said the Congress high command has lost faith in Siddaramaiah and imposed Surjewala's rule in the state. He said it will not be surprising if the AICC General Secretary, who is holding meetings with the MLAs and reviewing the performance of ministers, will chair the cabinet meeting in Vidhana Soudha. 'CM Siddaramaiah has no control over the administration. DyCM DK Shivakumar doesn't enjoy the support of MLAs, while Rahul Gandhi is not capable of making a leader of his choice as the CM,' Ashoka stated. Meanwhile, Social Welfare Minister HC Mahdevappa in Mysuru said Siddaramiah is the CM, and there is no super CM as charged by the Opposition. Clarifying that Surjewala does not behave like the Super CM, the minister said he is not against the AICC general secretary holding one-on-one meetings with ministers.
