Tag: TS Singh Deo

GST Council decides to cut tax on molasses to 5%: TS Singh Deo

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

The GST Council on Saturday decided to cut the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on molasses to 5%, from 18%, and exempt alcohol for human consumption from the levy. Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo, who is a member of the GST Council, said extra-neutral alcohol (ENA) for industrial use will continue to attract GST.

“ENA (potable alcohol) for human consumption will be exempt from GST and the same will be communicated to the Supreme Court,” Deo told reporters after the 52nd GST Council meeting. The tax rate on molasses, a by-product of sugarcane and used as raw material for alcohol production, has been slashed to 5% from 18% currently, Deo added.

#WATCH | On the GST council meeting, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo says, “The decision (online gaming) taken last time was ratified. Some states have raised the issues… Goa stated that retrospective taxes have been levied…” pic.twitter.com/1SbTP1UGez

— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2023

Deo added that some states like Delhi and Goa raised the issue of online gaming companies facing GST demand notices for alleged evasion.

“There were discussions on charges (tax demand notice) on these companies retrospectively. Because DGGI is an independent body, there cannot be any interference. The (GST Council) chairperson said she would make clarifications available to DGGI if required,” Deo added.

—With inputs from agencies

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Will Chhattisgarh get new CM? Bhupesh Baghel to meet Rahul Gandhi; TS Singh Deo in Delhi too

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and state’s Health Minister TS Singh Deo were in the national capital to meet senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday. The meeting is being linked to the purported two-and-a-half-year power-sharing formula for the chief minister’s post in the state’s ruling Congress.

Baghel did not divulge the agenda for the meetings in Delhi while talking to reporters here at the Swami Vivekanand airport. “After a long time, I am going to Delhi. (Last month) I visited Himachal Pradesh to take part in the funeral of Virbhadra Singh ji as a representative of Sonia Gandhi during which I met Priyanka (returning to Delhi). This time the meeting is with Rahul Gandhi. There will also be a meeting with AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal and state’s in-charge PL Punia,” Baghel replied when queried about the purpose of his visit.

On the other hand, Singh Deo said the state’s in-charge PL Punia will convey to him about his meeting with senior party leaders. “We don’t know. Punia ji is the person entrusted with this. He is in touch with the high command. It’s for him to convey. We are waiting for his message. I have informed Punia ji that I am in Delhi and I suppose we will get conveyed in the morning (about a meeting),” he told PTI.

The power-sharing formula has been a buzz in the political circles ever since Congress came to power in the state in December 2018.

With inputs from PTI

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

GST Council’s 43rd meeting: What’s on the agenda

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

The goods and services tax (GST) Council is all set to meet today after a span of seven months. There are reports that some opposition ruled states could pitch for an extension of the GST compensation regime for five more years beyond 2022.

Sources say that the Council is expected to discuss the compensation shortfall, which is estimated at Rs 1.6 lakh crore for the current fiscal, and is likely to be funded by borrowings this year as well. The Council may also discuss lowering taxes on COVID related products.

Amit Mitra, who has retained the West Bengal finance portfolio despite not contesting polls, has pushed for “zero-rated tax” on COVID essentials. The meeting comes at a time when the advent of the second COVID wave and strict restrictions across states have put further pressure on state coffers.
Tomorrow’s meeting would also mark the debut of 5 new members. Finance ministers of Assam, Bihar, Kerala and Tamil Nadu would be attending their first-ever GST Council meeting. Puducherry Chief Minister Rangaswamy would be making his debut as well.

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan earlier this month, prior to being appointed to represent the state at the GST Council, hit out at the lack of cooperative federalism in the Council and criticised Centre for using the force majeure clause to buttress its proposal of borrowing to make up for the compensation cess shortfall.

TS Singh Deo, who represents Chhattisgarh in the Council, Mauvin Godinho, Goa’s representative in the Council; Praveen Chakravarty, political economist and chairman of the Congress Data Analytics Department; Tax Expert Rohan Shah and Pratik Jain, Partner, Price Waterhouse & Co; discussed the expectations from the 43rd meeting of the GST council.

For the entire discussion, watch the accompanying video

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

COVID-19 vaccination drive expanded: Experts take stock of the situation

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

India has kick-started the third phase of its vaccination drive to cover everyone above 45 years of age. Looking at the picture across states – Maharashtra continues to remain worst affected, reporting around 40,000 new cases in a single day, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka have recorded more than 4,000 fresh infections each.

On the vaccination front, India has administered over 20.6 lakh doses on Wednesday. With this the vaccine doses tally has now crossed a new milestone of 6.5 crore – so far almost one crore people have received two doses of COVID vaccines.

Starting today, all individuals above the age of 45 years are eligible. The government has also decided that inoculation will be offered on all days of the month, which includes gazetted holidays as well keeping the rising cases in mind.

Chhattisgarh’s Health Minister TS Singh Deo, Health Secretary of Gujarat Jayanti Ravi and Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director at Apollo Hospital, discussed on the subject.

For entire discussion, watch the video…

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Harsh Vardhan rebukes Chhattisgarh Minister over Covaxin safety issue

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

A Twitter exchange between Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and Chhattisgarh Health Minister Tribhuvaneshwar Saran Singh Deo over the safety of Covaxin intensified on Friday with the latter continuing to seek suspension of the vaccine’s supply to the state.

It all started when Deo tweeted on February 11 about having written to Vardhan, urging him not to supply the indigenously developed vaccine until the phase-3 clinical trials are completed. He raised concerns over the expiry date missing from the vials.

Wrote to hon'ble union minister of health @drharshvardhan ji addressing the concern of Chhattisgarh govt regarding the supply of COVAXIN to the state.

The primary concerns of the state are :
▪️The inhibitions regrading the incomplete 3rd phase trials of COVAXIN (1/2) pic.twitter.com/xLNj43hwRR

— TS Singh Deo (@TS_SinghDeo) February 11, 2021

Vardhan, on his part, did not take the request kindly. He lambasted the senior Congress leader on the microblogging platform, stating that it was “not befitting of a state minister” to cast such aspersions and “further vested interests”.

Is it really befitting of a state's Health Minister Sh @TS_SinghDeo Ji to stoke inhibitions regarding efficacy of #COVID19Vaccine?

In such unprecedented times, you should help address any vaccine hesitancy & do what's in best interest of people, not further vested interests ! pic.twitter.com/sag1wy0q2T

— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) February 11, 2021

The Union Minister said both indigenously developed vaccines — Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech and Covishield by Serum Institute of India — that are currently being administered across the country are safe and immunogenic even as he called for their extensive use in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vardhan put the lid on Deo’s allegation over missing expiry date of the vaccine, by affirming that the detail, in fact, is mentioned on the vial labels.

No one ready to bow down, the Chhattisgarh Minister on Friday stuck to his earlier request and responded to Vardhan’s scathing remark with a five-part reply. He started off by saying that the inhibitions and concerns regarding Covaxin should not be taken lightly when reports of the vaccine’s phase 3 trials are awaited.

Sir, the inhibitions and concerns regarding #COVAXIN are real and it cannot be taken lightly under any circumstances. How can a vaccine be made available for regular use unless it has cleared the 3rd phase of trials and its reports are published? (1/5) https://t.co/OipL5VmxKL

— TS Singh Deo (@TS_SinghDeo) February 12, 2021

He also drew the Union Minister’s attention to a stay on trials of AstraZeneca vaccine in September last year following concerns over its efficacy. He questioned if it was wise to overlook the “slightest skepticism” of the general community during the mass inoculation drive.

In subsequent tweets, Deo pointed out that the vaccination coverage of healthcare workers was an encouraging 71.60 percent and posted statistics to buttress the fact. The percentage of vaccinated frontline workers, however, was a mere 14.59 percent since paramilitary personnel were unable to be immunised in camp due to “logistical issues”.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow