The BJP on Saturday termed CM Naveen Patnaik’s letter to the Centre to withdraw GST from Kendu leaves as eyewash. Since a large number of voters in Padampur work in the Kendu leaves sector, the letter has been written to woo them ahead of the December 5 by-poll, it said.
Opposition Chief Whip Mohan Majhi (BJP) said whereas the State Government is getting Rs 200 crore from Kendu leaves annually by imposing 9% GST, it should first think of rolling back the tax.
The CM should explain why he has not raised the issue of waiving the tax even once in the GST Council meet. So, the State Government is doing a drama, Majhi claimed.
Majhi alleged that the State Government had stopped providing bonus for two years to the Kendu leaves pluckers during the Covid pandemic. The State Government is conspiring to privatise the Kendu leaves sector in the name of handing it over to the gram panchayats.
