Withdraw new GST rates or face stir, warns AITUC
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 23 2022:
Demanding withdrawal
of the new GST rates, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Manipur has cautioned of
launching intense agitations in
case of failing to do so.
In a statement released by
its secretary L Sotinkumar, AITUC Manipur pointed out that
there have been some massive
fluctuations in the prices of
essential items in the past 2-3
years well before the Covid-19
pandemic.
The price of LPG
which was only Rs 732 on May
2, 2020 has now skyrocketed
to Rs 1204.50.Beneficiaries of
Ujjwala scheme are now forced
to sell the gas stove, cylinder
they received for free under
the scheme for they could no
longer afford the refills.
Manipur is slowly becoming one
of the most expensive states to
live in with the prices of essential items always on the rise.
Amidst this, both the central
and the state governments are
continuing to extend support to
corporate houses, by increasing
the GST rates on essential items
and putting immense burden
on the poor while felicitating
the wealthy.
Thus, the government needs
to withdraw such unfair GST
rates.
In this regard, AITUC
National Council convened
a meeting on July 18 and 19,
wherein the above points were
discussed in detail and several resolutions adopted.
The
meeting noted that the government has not yet considered
increasing the labourers' wages
in accordance with the rising
prices.
AITUC has been urging for implementation of ILO/ILC till
date but to no avail.
Nonetheless, it will continue to stand
against any attempts to break
down the labour law, along
other different trade unions.
Meanwhile, Manipur State
Council, All India Youth Federation (AIYF) has objected
to the new GST rates, stating that the new rates will
not only hinder the growth
of micro small and medium
enterprises, which are key
to the country's economic
growth.
PM Modi government's "senseless" economic
policy every year has only
led to further depreciation of
the value of Rupee, causing
concerns of a possible financial crisis.
This will heavily
impact the people especially
the daily wage earners.
The
inflation is high because of the
government's continued support for the wealthy, while
levying taxes on the people,
thus further widening the
rich-poor gap, the Federation
remarked.