CHENNAI: AIADMK coordinator and deputy leader of the opposition in the state assembly O Panneerselvam on Sunday questioned the ruling DMK for changing its stand on bringing the sale of petroleum products under the GST regime.
Tamil Nadu was one of the few states that opposed any move to include petrol and diesel under GST in the recent GST Council meet held in Lucknow on Friday.
Panneerselvam said while in opposition, it was the consistent demand of DMK president M K Stalin to bring petrol and diesel under the GST regime. After coming to power, his government is opposing such a move. "The DMK should maintain its stand to include sale of petroleum products under GST and help reduce the burden of the common people," OPS said in a statement.
Taunting the DMK for mastering the art of taking different stands on several issues, including NEET and river water sharing, while in the opposition and after becoming the ruling party, OPS recalled the instances when Stalin, as the leader of the opposition, demanded bringing petrol and diesel under the purview of the GST and also the need to reduce the excise duty on them through statements in January, 2018 and in April, 2018.
“In short, bringing petrol and diesel under GST was the stand of DMK prior to the assembly election. This stand has changed after DMK came to power. At the GST council meeting held in Lucknow, several states opposed the move to include petrol and diesel under GST, as per directions from Kerala High Court, and the proposal got rejected,” OPS said.
Panneerselvam cited media reports that highlighted the ruling DMK’s stand opposing the GST move at the council meeting last Friday. Even though the Tamil Nadu finance minister skipped the meeting, he had in his written submission to the Union finance minister opposed the move citing “rights” of the states.
