Panaji (Goa): Shiv Sena has continued their fight for the cause of tiatrists and dramatists. This is what Shiv Sena spokesman Rakhi Naik has said during a press conference yesterday:

Shiv Sena has received a communication from Chief Minister Mr Manohar Parrikar to their representation seeking to exempt GST on tiatr and drama. The party is thankful to the Chief Minister for reverting to the letter but is unhappy over the replies given in it.

Mr Parrikar has said that almost all of them in the field of drama and tiatr are not covered under GST. The reply is vague as Chief Minister has not mentioned that none of them are covered under GST, which also means that there are many who are covered under this draconian tax.

Sena was the first one to raise this issue in the State to give voice for the thousands of people who are in the field of tiatr and drama. It was Sena which had foreseen the impact of GST on this community which is working overtime to preserve our culture and Goenkarponn.

Mr Parrikar has said the State government is yet to receive any representation from tiatr fraternity on the issue. We don’t buy this argument for Mr Parrikar. As a chief minister of the State it was his duty to reach to the tiatr fraternity to inquire about their concern. Moreover, it was also duty of the state government to examine the impact of GST on tiatr and drama. Mr Parrikar’s reply clearly indicates that the state government has not applied its mind over the crucial subject.

We are also condemning the act of Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai of fooling the people. He had assured long back that he would be writing to the chief minister on the issue. The written reply available from Chief minister indicates that he has not written. Why is Vijai fooling the people especially minority community.

Sena wants to remind Mr Parrikar that the GST is already implemented in the State. Before the implementation of GST, Commercial Tax department had conducted workshops to educate traders and other concern people about this tax. Why is that Tiatr and drama artists who are also going to be covered with the tax were kept in darkness? Wasn’t it the duty of state government to also educate them?

Mr Parrikar should immediately take up the issue about exempting tiatr and drama from GST with the GST council. Why is the government wasting time? Sena will follow this issue till it is taken to the logical end.