treeviewThe Agricultural Purchase Marketing Committee (APMC), commission agents, buyers, dealers, and labor unions are protesting the introduction of a 5% GST on rice, wheat, pulses, and other foodgrains in Karnataka on Friday.
APMC and the state’s rice mills will stay closed. The State Rice Mill Owners’ Association has halted all operations and urged that the national government rescind its decision and that the GST Council reconsider its decision to apply GST on foodgrains.
The GST will be implemented on foodgrains on July 18. It will raise rice, power, and ragi prices, affecting the poor, middle, and working classes. Because of inflation, the middle and lower classes are unable to keep up with price increases in the most essential foodgrains used to create basic foods.
Davanagere District Rice Mill Owners Association President Kogundi Bakkeshappa claimed that rice mill owners have been making submissions in this respect for a long time and have received no response. “If the Central Government implements GST, we will meet and debate the next steps,” he stated.
Foodgrains such as rice, wheat, lentils, and others have been tax-free since 1983 due to their widespread use. A quintal of rice will cost Rs 300 to Rs 400 higher after GST. Ragi, pulses, and jowar prices will climb as well.
The action by the national government has been characterized as inhuman by Shamanuru Shivahankarappa, a prominent Congress politician. “I’ll talk to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai,” he stated.
According to Rameshchandra Lahoti, Vice President of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), an entire bandh would be observed on Friday in the Yeshwanthpur APMC market in Bengaluru.