K’taka Additional Chief Secretary LK Atheeq responds to Mohandas Pai’s doubt on GST growth rate
Bengaluru: In a recent statement made by the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, May 1, it was announced that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue collection for April 2024 has reached an unprecedented high, soaring to Rs 2.10 lakh crore. The GST collections breach the landmark figure of ₹2 lakh crore for the first time. The data revealed a 12.4% year-on-year growth in gross revenue, with net revenue (after refunds) standing impressively at ₹1.92 lakh crore, showcasing a notable 17.1% year-on-year growth.
The news sparked a conversation on social media platforms, with Indian businessman TV Mohandas Pai expressing concern over the apparent slowdown in the growth rate of GST in Karnataka. In a tweet directed at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other key figures, Pai highlighted the worrisome trend and called for a review by the Government of Karnataka (GOK).
Responding to Pai's apprehension, the additional Chief Secretary to the Karnataka government, LK Atheeq, offered a clarifying perspective. Atheeq contested Pai's assertion, emphasizing that the figures cited by Pai pertain solely to the month of April 2024 compared to April 2023. He further provided data, presenting a comparative analysis of Karnataka's GST collection growth rate in the fiscal year 2023-24. According to Atheeq, Karnataka has witnessed an 18% growth rate in GST collection, outperforming the national average of 12%. He also juxtaposed Karnataka's growth with other states such as Maharashtra and Gujarat, both recording growth rates of 18% and 10% respectively.
Atheeq stated that when viewed in the context of the preceding fiscal year, the growth rates appear lower for all states due to the exceptionally high growth witnessed during the COVID-affected year of 2021-22.
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— ಎಲ್ ಕೆ ಅತೀಕ್ L K Atheeq (@lkatheeq) May 2, 2024
So, the GST collection in Karnataka is not slowing down.
When compared to 2022-23 the growth rates are lower for everyone because 2022-23 growth is over the COVID year of 2021-22 & hence it is very high. @TVMohandasPai
👉 #GST revenue collection for April 2024 highest ever at Rs 2.10 lakh crore
— Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) May 1, 2024
👉 #GST collections breach landmark milestone of ₹2 lakh crore
👉 Gross Revenue Records 12.4% y-o-y growth
👉 Net Revenue (after refunds) stood at ₹1.92 lakh crore; 17.1% y-o-y growth
Read more… pic.twitter.com/Ci7CE7h35o
@CMofKarnataka @siddaramaiah @DKShivakumar @lkatheeq Worrisome sign, after long time Growth rate of GST slowing down in Karnatak. GOK needs to review https://t.co/AMktMCeHhk
— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) May 1, 2024
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Congress using hijab issue to pacify minority anger, alleges Karnataka LoP R Ashoka
Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka has accused the Congress government of using the hijab issue to placate what he described as discontent among minority voters after the Davanagere by-election.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Ashoka alleged that the state government, instead of addressing issues such as price rise, corruption, farmers’ distress and law and order, was attempting to retain its minority vote base by reviving the hijab issue.
Referring to the 2022 dress code introduced by the BJP government, which prohibited hijab in schools and colleges, Ashoka said the Karnataka High Court had upheld the policy and emphasised the importance of discipline in educational institutions.
He questioned the Congress government’s move to revisit the issue and asked whether setting aside the court-backed policy to benefit one community could be described as secularism.
Ashoka further alleged that while the government was willing to permit hijab, it continued to prohibit saffron shawls.
He accused the government of dividing students on religious lines rather than treating schools and colleges as spaces of equality.
Drawing a comparison with Mamata Banerjee’s government in West Bengal, Ashoka claimed that excessive appeasement politics had harmed the state and warned that the Congress in Karnataka could face a similar political response.
He said voters in Karnataka would teach the Congress a lesson for what he termed “vote-bank politics” and for compromising constitutional and judicial principles.
