KASSIA suggests govt to include petrol & diesel under GST as MSMEs burdened due to hike

Bengaluru, April 4 (KNN) The Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KASSIA) has suggested the government to bring petrol and diesel under the ambit of Goods and Services tax (GST) as continues hike of fuel prices has become a never-ending burden for the micro and small scale enterprises (MSEs).

The resultant increase in the input costs is hurting the thinning margins of MSEs, said P. Shashidhar, Administrator, KASSIA.

Pointing out the upwards revision of petrol and diesel nine times in the last few weeks, he said the latest hike by Rs 80 paise a litre each is escalating problems for both the employer-industries as well as workers whose commutation costs are rising.

There is a demand from workers to compensate their commutation costs which is not possible under the present circumstances, he added.

He also urged the central government as well as the state government to take into account the alarming situation faced by the micro and small enterprises (MSE) sector and bring down the prices immediately.

Apart from receiving suggestions from MSME associations, the central government is being heavily criticised by the opposition parties and to demonstrate that Congress is organising rallies and marches across the country while Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab has accused the union government of looting the general public. (KNN Bureau)