'Centre giving step-motherly treatment to Himachal Pradesh'

Shahpur MLA and Deputy chief whip of the Congress in the Himachal Assembly Kewal Singh Pathania on Sunday said the Centre was giving step-motherly treatment to the state.

He said the previous government got Rs 16,000 crore as GST compensation, which stopped in June 2022.

Earlier, Rs 4,000 crore was collected through VAT and excise in the state, but it stopped after the GST was implemented.

Pathania said the Himachal Government used to collect Rs 2,500 crore as VAT from Baddi itself, but now it gets only 250 crores.

Though Himachal is a pharma hub, Uttar Pradesh collects maximum taxes under the GST, he said. “The Congress government is changing policy to ensure good governance. World-class infrastructure is being developed in rural areas to prepare students for future challenges. Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding School will be established soon in the Shahpur Assembly segment,” said Pathania.