As polls near, Modi govt lowers GST on many items; 5% tax for restaurants

News Network
November 10, 2017

New Delhi, Nov 10: Out of 228 items in the 28% tax bracket, 178 have been put into the lower tax category of 18%, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced at a press briefing after the GST Council meet in Guwahati on Friday.

The development comes in the wake of constant pressure being exerted on Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government to lower the arbitrary taxes. Besides, the political pundits had warned that high GST may harm BJP in Assembly polls in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka.

Mr. Jaitley said that detergent, marble floorings, toiletries are among items shifted to the 18% tax bracket from 28%. The modified rates will come into force on November 15.

The tax rate on two items have been reduced from 28% to 12%, 13 items have been reduced from 18% to 12%, while the rate on six items have been cut from 18% to 5% and that of eight items from 12% to 5%. Six items have gone from 5% to zero, Mr. Jaitley announced.

The restaurant industry will not get input tax credit, Mr. Jaitley added. The consensus in the Council has been that, even though restaurants have been given the benefit of input tax credits, they have not passed this to consumers, Mr. Jaitley said. Tax rate will be 5% uniform for all AC or non-AC restaurants, he said, except those in hotels with tariffs of more than Rs. 7,500, which will continue to be taxed at 18%. Outdoor catering will be taxed at 18% with ITC.

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News Network
March 3,2020

Mysuru, Mar 3: Three leopard cubs were rescued by a team of Forest Department in Mysuru on Tuesday.

The cubs were found in a sugarcane field and came into notice of a farmer while cutting the sugarcane.

The villagers alerted the forest department which rescued the three cubs.

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News Network
March 18,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 18: In the backdrop of the breakdown of the COVID-19 virus across the state, the ongoing Budget session of the Karnataka Assembly, which is scheduled to end of this month, is likely to be cut short by one week.

According to official sources, the state government, which had shut down all the congregating places including Malls, Theatres, Marriage Halls and banned all the public functions, is in favor of the cutting short the ongoing Assembly session, to give focus on keeping a tab on the COVID-19 disease.

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News Network
July 27,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 27: Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said that when COVID-19 has made life and livelihoods difficult, it is unfortunate that charges have been levelled of irregularities in the procurement of COVID-19 equipment.

"The Congress which has levelled charges against the ruling BJP has not so far filed a complaint with any investigating agency. Instead, the Congress has limited itself to getting publicity. On the other hand, the ruling BJP instead of coming clean by ordering a probe into the main charges is indirectly admitting the scam," Kumaraswamy said on Sunday.

"By washing dirty linen in public, both the Congress and the BJP are playing a cruel joke on people instead of protecting their lives," he said.

Hitting out at the BJP, he asked, "Why is it that the BJP is not ordering an investigation into the Rs 2,000 crore Covid 19 corruption charges levelled against the government by the Congress? Why is the government keeping quiet on the corruption charges?"

He said, "Is this the leadership provided by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa? There could be political pressure on seeking resignation of his Ministers. But why has no action been initiated against any officers? Is there any effort to destroy the evidence by retaining officers in their existing postings?"

"Hunger for publicity is evident when we look at the press conference by five Ministers at a time," he said.

The government has countered the charges of the Congress but backtracked on ordering an investigation, he said.

"Would this not give rise to suspicion that the government is involved in the scam?" he asked.

He also asked why Congress leaders have not filed a complaint before any investigating agency despite "possessing documents to prove the charges".

"Are the Congress leaders trying to get publicity or are they concerned about the welfare of the people? The Congress Legislative Party leader is seeking an account (Lekka Kodi) while the BJP president is seeking answers (Uttara Kodi). Is it enough to give such questions and answers?"

Is there a concrete legal plan to deal with the irregularities? he asked.

"Looking at the way the Congress leaders have addressed media conferences and taken to social media campaigns, it appears that they are trying to get publicity," he said.

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