CHENNAI: Disgruntled AIADMK MLA and former Minister V Senthil Balaji, who has sided with the third faction in the party led by deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran, caused a stir in the Assembly on Wednesday, raising a spate of issues, particularly the high rate of GST on textiles, groundnut candy and crackers, during the debate on demand for grants to the Commercial Taxes Department.
Beginning his speech by hailing Dhinakaran, who is fighting a simmering battle with the faction headed by ‘Edappadi’ K Palaniswami, Senthil Balaji said the textile sector was on the verge of ruin due to the heavy tax rate, and asked what the government was going to do.
When MLA from Aravakurichi continued posing questions without any intervention from the treasury benches, Deputy Leader of Opposition Durai Murugan questioned the silence of the ministers who otherwise interjected with responses.
Commercial Taxes and Registration Minister KC Veeramani took to his feet to respond, and said the high rate of GST on crackers, matches and textiles would be raised at the next meeting of the GST Council.