Facing criticism from numerous quarters for exorbitant ticket charges for the upcoming India-Sri Lanka ODI right here, Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurrahiman has courted a serious controversy by saying that those that can’t afford They need not go to observe the match. match.
The minister made the controversial remarks on Sunday when reporters requested him whether or not the federal government would take into account rolling again the reported determination to levy leisure tax on spectators.
“What is the necessity to cut back taxes? The demand is that the nation is witnessing a phenomenon of value rise in order that the tax needs to be diminished. Those who’re ravenous needn’t go to observe the match.
Opposition Congress and BJP lashed out on the minister for his controversial remarks in opposition to the poor and stated a public servant mustn’t have made such an announcement.
Slamming the minister, Leader of Opposition within the state meeting VD Satheesan on Monday stated folks have been “shocked” to listen to such “vulgar and absurd statements” from a minister within the state’s democratically elected Communist authorities.
“The chief minister mustn’t permit the minister to sit down on that chair even for an hour. What does the CPI(M), which claims to be the occasion of the poor, must say about this?” Satisan requested.
BJP state president Okay Surendran urged the federal government to roll again the “huge increase” in leisure tax being imposed for the India-Sri Lanka ODI match.
He stated the minister’s assertion that solely these with cash ought to watch sports activities is an ‘insult’ to sports activities lovers.
“The sudden hike in entertainment tax from five to 12 per cent is beyond the reach of cricket fans in the state. Cricket lovers are forced to pay 30 per cent tax including GST to watch the game,” stated Surendran.
The authorities, nonetheless, dismissed studies that individuals have been being charged additional tax to observe the match.
In an announcement, the state’s Local Self-Government Minister MB Rajesh stated the leisure tax had really been diminished from a better price to 12 per cent.
He stated the tax price was determined after consultations with the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA), that are the organisers.
Against this backdrop, the KCA has began promoting tickets for the match to be held right here on January 15.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
