New Delhi: Voicing her concern over the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that the economic situation of the country is such that the states might not be able to pay the salaries in near future.
Speaking at a task force meeting, Banerjee, as quoted by news agency PTI said, “Country's economic situation getting bad to worse; I doubt if states will be able to pay salaries in coming days.”
She further added that the Centre must pay the pending GST dues to the states.
It is to be noted that with an aim to curb the rising prices of essential commodities, Banerjee held a meeting with several ministers, task force and the market committee on Thursday.
Demanding the Centre for an extension of the GST time limit by another five years, Banerjee, as per news agency ANI report, said, “The rise in fuel prices is affecting the lives of people. I request the Centre to control the fuel prices and temporarily stop collecting toll-tax. I also request Central Govt for the extension of GST time limit for another five years.”
Earlier, in the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the TMC supremo had expressed her concern over the fuel price hike as diesel is only 17 paise away from Rs 100-mark in Kolkata. The price of petrol, that was hiked 14 times over the last 16 days, crossed Rs 115 in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Notably, earlier this week, Banerjee slammed the Centre over the country’s grave economic situation and said that India’s financial condition is worse than that of crisis-hit Sri Lanka. She also urged the Centre for an all-party meeting to address the issue.