New Delhi: Levying Goods and Services Tax (GST) on medical supplies such as personal protection gears, hand sanitisers and oxygen needed for covid-19 management is anti-people and draconian, West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra said on Saturday. Several states including West Bengal have been asking for full tax waiver on covid related medical supplies. Mitra said in a letter to union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman that GST being levied on several of these items was forced and that the constructive alternatives suggested by him—zero rating of the GST on covid related medical supplies or levying a token 0.1%--were not accepted. “This is totally an anti-people decision that is being thrust on us at the GST Council. “In my over two years of attending the GST Council, I have never seen FM @nsitharamanji cut off anyone during the Council discussions.

Source: Mint June 12, 2021 15:45 UTC