GST will hugely impact regional cinema: Bengal ministers

The West Bengal goverenment on Monday said regional cinema will be hugely impacted by the present form of the Goods and Services Tax regime scheduled for a July 1 roll-out and demanded suitable changes.

Consumer Affairs Minister Sadhan Pande and Information Technology Minister Bratya Basu flayed the decision to put cinema tickets in the 28 per cent tax bracket in the new indirect tax system.

"Tickets will be significantly pricier. Also, we have the menace of piracy. Regional cinema will be affected," Basu told the media here at an event.

Pande hoped the tax rates will be revised.

"I think they will correct it. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is opposing it staunchly in its present form," he said.

Basu, also an acclaimed playwright and actor, reiterated actor-filmmaker Kamal Hassan's view that the current tax will "ruin regional cinema.

"Kamal Hassan had welcomed the 'One India, One Tax' GST system but said the 28 per cent tax will ruin regional cinema. We wholeheartedly welcome the GST. But the current rate needs to be revised, otherwise it will run regional cinema," Kamal said.

--IANS

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