GST is Centre's attempt to curtail power of states, says Tripura CM Manik Sarkar

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has that the recently passed Goods and Services Tax (GST) has viewed it is an attempt by the centre to curtail the power of states. He was speaking to reporters at his office on Monday evening.

Sarkar, who also a politburo member of the CPI-M said, "In general what it seems is that the power of the state government is getting curtailed as total power is concentrating in the hand of the centre and this is the main issue."

"Based on this we have to see how the power will be divided between the state and the centre, until and unless this is given a full shape there is no scope for coming to final conclusion. However, there is enough reason for being worried on this."

According to Sarkar the main worry is not whether the states are going to be benefited out of the GST rather the prime matter of worry is how the powers guaranteed by the constitution to the states governments are gradually shrinking.

The CPI-M leader said, "Maybe ours is a small state and the revenue amount also not that big but the question is not about the size of the state rather the power empowered to the states in a federal structure and as guaranteed by the constitution. These scopes and power of the states are one by one getting into the hand of the centre and this is not correct."

India took a major step on Monday towards a unified goods and services tax regime across the country, with parliament passing the relevant constitution amendment bill in what is seen as the most radical indirect tax reform in over six decades.