Bharatiya Kisan Sangh Manipur Prant on Monday submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister N Biren Singh, demanding reduction of Goods and Services Taxes (GST) on all agriculture machineries and farming relevant articles.
Speaking to the media at Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh Manipur Prant general secretary Khaidem Dara said that the Input Tax Credit mechanism is not implemented in the agriculture sector. He maintained that the absence of low input and high output GST model in agriculture has hindered the income generating capacity in the agriculture sector.
Dara recounted that around two lakh farmers of the country had carried out protest demonstrations at Delhi’s Ram Lila Maidan on December 19, demanding eradication of GST input in the agriculture sector. But the demand was not reflected in the parliament budget session, he added.
He further highlighted that the resolution to submit a memorandum to the chief minister was taken during a recent farmers’ ‘Pratinidhi Sabha’ at Jaipur, Rajasthan. “Representatives from across the country took part in the sabha which ultimately concluded to bring up the GST issue to their respective state chief ministers on February 13,” he said.
Dara said that the lack of farmers’ control over their products and the high GST slapped on the agriculture sector has impeded the agriculture sector from contributing to the country’s economic growth. Therefore, he urged the Manipur government to swiftly resolve the matter as agriculture falls under the purview of state list.
