Two Opposition-Ruled States Demand Waiver of GST on 'The Kashmir Files'

The Kashmir Files highlights the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from the Valley following systematic killings of people from the community by Pakistan-backed terrorists

New Delhi: Amid several BJP-ruled states making tax exemptions for The Kashmir Files, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that the Centre should waive off GST instead of making the movie tax free.

Replying to a debate on the state Budget in the Legislative Assembly, Pawar said that the central Goods and Services Tax and the state GST are 50 per cent each.

"The issue in the film is about Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken about the film in Parliament. If the central GST is waived, the tax waiver will apply to the entire country," news agency PTI quoted Pawar as saying.

Miffed by his statement, the BJP legislators staged a walkout from the Assembly. Earlier on Tuesday, the opposition BJP had submitted a memorandum signed by 92 of its MLAs to declare The Kashmir Files as tax-free.

Among the other Opposition-ruled states, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday said that the Centre should give a tax break to the movie as it gets a portion of the tax from states. 

He also invited all the MLAs to watch the movie at a mall here.

Responding to the demand of the Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik of the BJP for making the movie tax free in the state, the chief minister, as quoted by PTI, said, “Let's go to watch this film. The Government of India also gets a share in the tax, therefore, the Centre should exempt the movie from the tax in the entire country.”

"After the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST), half of its share goes to the Centre. The Centre should declare the film as tax-free in the country," the Chief Minister said, adding that all the legislators would watch the movie after adjournment of the Assembly session on Wednesday.

Later, in a statement, the state public relations department said that the Chief Minister has invited all the MLAs and other dignitaries to watch The Kashmir Files.

Written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri and produced by Zee Studios, The Kashmir Files highlights the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from the Valley following systematic killings of people from the community by Pakistan-backed terrorists.

The movie stars Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar, Mithun Chakraborty and Pallavi Joshi among others.