KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said the state government is supporting the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for rolling out of the one tax formula.
"We are fighting for the GST because one tax formula will work for the industries. It will easier for industries so that they will be able to pay single tax instead of multiple taxes they pay," she said at a felicitation ceremony organised by all leading business chambers.
"People are fed up with multiple taxation. This (GST) is a positive proposal. We have been supporting it," she said, while stressing that she is against the BJP government at the centre but will support pro-people policies.
"I am opposing the BJP government politically. But I assure you, I will be the first to stand for pro-people policies like the GST," she said.
Banerjee also instructed West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra, who is chairman of the Empowered Committee of Finance Ministers on GST, to "sort it out in the next two meetings".
"GST is long-pending. Within the next two meetings, you (Mitra) sort it out, build a consensus and do it," she said.
Banerjee also said there is no point talking and it is time to deliver it now.
"I heard of more than 70,000 industries left India. They fear in investing in India.
"Industrialists are even harassed by multiple government agencies like income tax departments, enforcement directorate, CBI. They are afraid of expanding their businesses. It is not the way out," she claimed.