No revenue loss to Himachal due to GST reforms, says BJP

BJP national spokesperson Gopal Krishna Agarwal today said, “Himachal Pradesh earns Rs 9,375 crore from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) every year, with a 14 per cent annual jump in revenue.”

Agarwal, while addressing mediapersons here, said that Himachal would not lose even one penny from the GST reforms made by the Central Government. “Himachal Pradesh will see a 14 per cent increase in its annual income from the GST and the IGST. In 2023-2024, Himachal Pradesh had received Rs 5,339 crore as the state’s share of the GST and Rs 2,845 crore from the IGST. If these are added, Himachal Pradesh had received Rs 9,375 crore through the GST in one year,” he added.

Agarwal said, “Besides, Rs 14,942 crore comes through aid-in-grant and Himachal received Rs 24,317 crore from the Central Government in 2023 and 2024. This shows that in one year, Himachal Pradesh received Rs 24,317 crore from the Central Government and with the state’s total budget being around Rs 50,000 crore, half of it comes from the Central Government.”

He lashed out at Congress leaders for creating a negative perception whereas the truth was that the Central Government was standing shoulder to shoulder with the state government. “Himachal Pradesh received Rs 4,753 crore in 2020 and 2021, Rs 7,349 crore in 2021 and 2022, and Rs 7,883 crore in 2022 and 2023 through the GST. These are not small amounts. Simply stating that Himachal Pradesh is incurring a loss due to the GST is not the truth,” Agarwal added.