Centre playing dirty politics

BANGALORE August 24, 2010: Karnataka Home Minister V S Acharya on Tuesday said some of the Bills, including the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime, which were forwarded to the President are yet to get assent even though they were sent a long ago. In this communication age, clarification, if needed, could be asked from the State government quickly. “They are harrying us (in giving assent),” Dr Acharya said.

Meanwhile, he defended the ruling BJP’s move to launch a state-wide agitation to put pressure on President Pratibha Patil to give her assent to the anti-cattle slaughter bill by rejecting the contention of Governor H R Bhardwaj.

He told reporters here that the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2010, which was passed by both Houses of the State Legislature. But the Bill has been rejected by the Governor.

The Bill was forwarded to the President by Mr Bhardwaj for her assent.

Dr Acharya pointed out that same kind of legislation is in place in seven other States and legislations more or less on the same lines are also in force in many states. How correct on the part of the Governor to create a controversy against this Bill? he asked.

On the Governor regretting the campaign, Acharya said it was meant to mobilise public opinion. In a democracy, any party has a right to inform the people. "There is a need to put forth our view before the people...Otherwise, people may think we have done something which was not in our power to do," he said.

In a majority opinion, the Supreme Court judgment ( R C Lahoti) in 2005 also supported the ban on cow slaughter. What the Centre’s problem in providing assent to the Bill, he asked.

However, Governor in Chamarajanagar on Monday regretted the political campaign planned by the ruling BJP on the issue and expressed the view that the Bill would have a bearing on the food habits of the people.

Dr Acharya said father of the Indian Constitution Dr B R Ambedkar too had opposed cow slaughter since the holy cow provides food and the animal is part of Hindu culture.

The ruling BJP has decided to launch a state-wide agitation from September one to press for its demand. Demonstrations would be held in all 224 assembly segments till September five. On September 6, a day-long dharna would be held here where Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, state BJP President K S Eshwarappa and office-bearers of all constituencies would participate.

GST

He said the implementation of goods and services tax (GST) system from April 1, 2011 is likely to result into a revenue loss of Rs 6,000 crore to the State, said Home Minister V S Acharya.

He said the government has asked the Centre for introducing the new tax system with revenue neutral tax rates, so that the buoyancy in tax collection is maintained. Presently, the state government has two slabs of 5 per cent and 13.5 per cent under the Value Added Tax (VAT) system of taxation. Under the proposed GST system there will be two slabs of 6 per cent and 10 per cent. This means there would be a revenue loss of Rs 6,000 crore, he said.

(Mangalorean)