The proposed increase in GST on garments is expected to be rolled back due to countrywide pressure from various stakeholders of the industry. The GST Council is having a meeting today, in whichthis issue will also be discussed.
In the pre-budget meeting chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have said that they oppose the proposed hike.
Manish Sisodia, Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister and minister incharge of Delhi Government’s finance department has said that the protest by textile industry against hike in GST from 5 per cent to 12 per cent is justified. He added “We demand keeping tax on textile low.”
Tamil Nadu Finance Minister P Thiaga Rajan also held similar strong opinion.
“The textile sector needs to be encouraged, not high tax,” said Subhash Garg, Rajasthan Cabinet Minister.
Meanwhile, Telangana and West Bengal have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the matter, citing possible job losses and closure of units.
In Karnataka, the delegation of Federation of Textile and Garment Association (FOTAGA), under the leadership of Karnataka Hosiery and Garment Association (KHAGA), met CM Basavaraj Bommai at his office at Vidhan Soudha, and handed over the copy of the memorandum on change of tax slabs from 5 per cent to 12 per cent for apparel industry.
