Danam condemns CM for 'unilateral' decision on VAT

Labour Minister Danam Nagender on Tuesday expressed displeasure over Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s 'unilateral decision' to reduce the Value Added Tax, imposed on the textile and cloth merchants in the State.

Talking to media persons at his residence, Danam Nagender regretted that the Chief Minister took unilateral decision without consulting the Cabinet colleagues despite the Congress emissary Vayalar Ravi directing him to take other cabinet ministers into confidence while taking vital decisions on policy matters. “The key decisions should be taken with the consultation of entire Cabinet. It will send wrong message among people if the Chief Minister takes decisions without consulting Cabinet members and erode party's image,” he said.

Danam said that when he proposed revoking of VAT, the Chief Minister told him that a Cabinet Sub-Committee would be appointed to look into the issue. However, the Chief Minister suddenly changed his stance and took unilateral decision without consulting the other cabinet ministers, he said.

Danam said that he would seek explanation from the Chief Minister over it in ensuing Cabinet meeting. He said that the government should make an ordinance reducing VAT on textiles in the State after a thorough discussion in the Cabinet meeting.