Cong slams Maya, NCP for windfall profit tax idea

“Refusal of the BSP Government in UP to reduce sales tax shows that governments in many states do not think in terms of national interest. For them, the party’s interest is supreme,” AICC spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters here. He also took a dig at the BJP saying that many BJP-ruled states had refused to reduce sales tax despite the party president’s statement to this effect.

The Congress also expressed its reservation on a demand to impose windfall profit tax on private oil companies. However, it said the issue merits consideration. “Windfall profit tax will tantamount to taxing efficiency. But it is a complex issue. It needs to be studied in greater details. It is a question that merits consideration. We are in the process of consultation within the party on this,” Tewari told reporters.

Meanwhile, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supported the Left’s demand for windfall profit tax. “It is one suggestion, which I think is very sensible. However, the amount collected through it will not be significant,” said NCP general secretary D P Tripathi.

“But even then we believe the suggestion of the Left party is sensible. Private companies are making a lot of profit because of an increase in international prices,” Tripathi told reporters here.