Vat reduction on ATF:Cong moves privilege notice against CM
Bhubaneswar, Mar 12 : Opposition Chief whip Prasad Harichandan today moved a notice for breach of privilege against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for annoucing to reduce VAT on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) to five per cent outside the House, while the Assembly session is on.
Mr Harichandan said on March 5, while presiding over a meeting for inauguration of the new domestic terminal of the Biju Patnaik Airport here, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced that the state government is willing to reduce VAT on ATF to five per cent for international flights touching Bhubaneswar and for all domstic flights from and to Bhubaneswar, which touch at least one more airport located within the state.
The Congress leader said it was an important policy decision which has not been reflected in the 2013-14 budget presented on February 19.
The tax relaxation for ATF was not reflected in the Governor's address to the House, Finance Minister's speech and in the estimated receipt and expenditure column of the budget.
Mr Harichandan said he was not opposed to the relaxation of VAT but when the Assembly is in session, no policy decision should be announced outside the House.
He further said when the House reassembled on March 7, the Chief Minister did not announce it in the House, violating the rules of Parliamentary system and practices.
He urged the Speaker to direct the Chief Minister to make a statement in the House and sought the Speaker's ruling on his privilege notice.
Mr Harichandan also wanted to the know whether the Chief Minister or any Minister, against whom the notice for privilge notices was moved, have given any statement so far.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kalpataru Das said the Chief Minister had said the government was willing to reduce and not announced to reduce VAT on ATF.
Mr Ranendra Pratap Swain said the UPA government had hiked the price of oil twice 15 days prior to the budget without taking Parliament into confidence.