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BJP-SAD panel fails to decide on VAT cut
Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 10
The SAD-BJP co-ordination committee meeting on Monday failed to take any decision on reduction of VAT on industry and fuel.

Amid a “high-pitched verbal duel” between the two sides, the panel decided to put the ball in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s court. Sources said the co-ordination panel would meet the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal soon to take a final decision. BJP state president Kamal Sharma is likely to be involved in the deliberations, they said.

Akali Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Dhindsa said the issue deals with a major policy decision affecting the revenue of the state and the Chief Minister will have to take the final call. “Our job is it to discuss the arguments and try to figure out a solution,” he said.

BJP member in the committee Narottam Dev Ratti also said the matter would be taken up with the CM.

The three-hour meeting saw BJP members aggressively raising issues that catered to prevailing public sentiments, especially, trading community, employees and commoners affected by higher diesel prices in Punjab. Akali representatives, assisted by bureaucrats, remained on the defensive.

The BJP also sought timely payment of salary to all government employees.

Diesel prices in Punjab were higher by about 50 paisa than the neighbhouring states. More value added tax (VAT) was being levied on industry besides refund of over Rs 400 crore to industrialists was pending.

This was the second meeting of the co-ordination committee, which was formed after difference cropped up between the two parties in the backdrop of the Lok Sabha poll debacle.

The six-member committee includes two Akali Rajya Sabha members- Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Balwinder Singh Bhunder.

BJP–SAD friendly match?

* BJP member Narottam Ratti told reporters that the party may even have a “friendly match” with the Akalis in the upcoming municipal elections. He, however, declined to elaborate and said was well with the alliance

* Akali member Sukhdev Dhindsa said over time some differences crop up between allies, but these were temporary.