GST on daily use items: FM says decision taken with all states onboard

Nirmala Sitharaman said states levied sales tax or VAT on foodgrains in the pre-GST regime and the present levy on cereals, pulses, flour, curd and lassi is an exercise to curb tax leakage

Facing criticism over GST on daily use items, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the 5 per cent tax is being levied on wheat flour and other items after nod from all states, including non-BJP ruled states.

Non-BJP ruled states of Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala had agreed to impose the 5 per cent levy, she said.

In a series of tweets, Sitharaman said states levied sales tax or VAT on foodgrains in the pre-Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime and the present levy on cereals, pulses, flour, curd and lassi is an exercise