Now,TMC targets Centre over CST

Even as Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday made an attempt to reach out to the states promising to look into their demands for Central Sales Tax CST compensation,key UPA ally Trinamool Congress attacked the government in the Rajya Sabha,accusing it of taking unilateral decisions on such issues.

The states,in fact,are losing money on CST,and a unilateral decision has been made not to give the states what is actually due to them, Trinamool MP Derek OBrien said while participating in the debate on General Budget. Citing the case of West Bengal,he said the loss amounts to Rs 1,200 crore. If you look at some of the other states,it is between Rs 800 crore-1200 crore and Rs 1,500 crore, he said,adding this has been done unilaterally.

Replying to the Budget debate later,Mukherjee said he has received a letter from the Chairman of the Empowered Committee of the State Finance Ministers on CST. Ive not closed the issue. Surely,I will see into it,and,then,I will discuss and find out a workable solution8230; he said.

After the debate,the Rajya Sabha returned the relevant Bills completing the first phase of the budgetary exercise.