BJD to demand for 1% cess for mineral-bearing states

New Delhi: A day before the commencement of the monsoon session of the Parliament, BJD today said the party will demand levying of a 1% cess to benefit mineral-bearing states.

Talking to media persons, Bhartruhari Mahatab, BJD Parliamentary party leader, said, “We will demand imposition of 1% cess for the benefit of mineral-bearing states as the manufacturing places like the cess suggested for Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra.”

Besides, party MPs will raise the issues of construction of a barrage in the upper catchment areas of Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh and the controversial Polavaram project. However, the party will support the GST Bill if it is tabled in the Parliament for approval with some amendments, Mahatab said.

Meanwhile, an all-party meeting chaired by the Prime Minister was held to get a consensus on the GST Bill ahead of its tabling in the Parliament.

Jyotirditya Scindia, Congress MP, said, “The GST which is in the interest of the country cannot be a flawed one. It should be holistic, solution oriented and pragmatic.”

Commenting on the issue, Ananth Kumar, Parliamentary Affairs Minister, said, “The GST has to be passed through a consensus. We all want a revolution through the implementation of the Bill.”

Notably, the monsoon session of the Parliament, which will have 20 working days, will end on August 12.