The State Assembly on Monday witnessed uproarious scenes over the imposition of GST on certain food items including puffed rice (Mudhi) and flattened rice (Chuda) which are consumed by poor people.
During the Zero Hour, Opposition Congress members trooped into the Well of the House and shouted slogans protesting against the imposition of GST on the food items.
Speaker Bikram Keshari Arukha had to adjourn the House twice till 4 pm.
During the Question Hour, Congress MLA Suresh Routray said the imposition of GST on food items of poor people and children is unacceptable. He requested Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to write to the Centre to withdraw its decision. Otherwise, let the State Government bear the GST on the items like puffed rice and flattened rice.
In his response, Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari said, “As per the levying of GST on puffed rice and flattened rice is concerned, it is the subject of the GST Council and Odisha, a single State, cannot take any decision on this.â€
However, Pujari clarified that only packaged and labelled puffed rice would attract GST. Therefore, it would have no impact on customers and traders in rural areas where these items are sold loosely.
Raising the issue again during the Zero Hour, the Congress members said in Odisha, puffed rice, flattened rice, parched rice, curd, milk and jaggery are consumed by poor people and also offered as Prasad in temples.
Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati demanded that the Speaker form a House panel to meet the GST Council Chairman and the Prime Minister on this issue.
BJD member Amar Prasad Satpathy also expressed concern over the issue and demanded that the Finance Minister make a statement clarifying whether the GST Council has taken permission from the State Government before levying GST on puffed rice and flattened rice.
Notably, the GST Council has imposed 5% GST on pre-packaged and labelled food items such as curd, lassi, puffed rice and flattened rice from Monday onwards.
