Badal rules out reduction in state taxes, VAT

Sultanpurlodhi, Nov 13 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today ruled out the possibility of any reduction in the State taxes mainly VAT in view of global recession affecting on the purchasing power of common man.

Addressing a press conference at Sultanpurlodhi today, Badal said the revenue collected through state taxes was hardly meeting the state expenditure and there was no scope to give any concessions in the state taxes.

He added that it was the duty of the Centre to help the states at this critical juncture as Centre has enormous funds and could easily support the states.

While criticising the Centre for not lowering the rates of Petrol and Diesel when the Global market of the crude oil had come down, Mr Badal alleged that Centre was not lowering the rates of Diesel and Petrol so that oil companies could make huge profits.

He said the high prices of diesel were affecting the farmers who are the backbone of the country's economy.

Replying to another question on the availability of coal for setting up of Thermal plants in Punjab, Mr Badal said Multinationals who were setting up these thermal plants must have surveyed the availability of coal before taking decision to set up these thermal plants.

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