New Delhi/Bengaluru, October 8 (Daily Kiran) : Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed optimism on Thursday regarding the state’s long-awaited pending funds after a meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. However, he refrained from sharing specific details immediately.
Speaking to reporters at Karnataka Bhavan following a GST Council meeting in New Delhi, Shivakumar stated, “I discussed the issue of our state’s outstanding dues with the Finance Minister, and I received some good news. I won’t disclose anything further at this moment, but I will discuss it later.”
He described the GST Council meeting as constructive, noting that other states acknowledged Karnataka’s concerns. “The meeting went very well. Everyone listened to Karnataka’s points,” he added.
Shivakumar also addressed discussions around not filing criminal cases or making arrests for non-payment of GST. He emphasized that such actions should not be taken lightly and that GST recovery should align with income tax regulations and other applicable laws.
“Discussions were held regarding not filing criminal cases against those who fail to pay GST. This should be done in accordance with income tax rules and laws. It is not right for officials to arrest traders without cause,” he remarked.
The Chief Minister urged officials to focus on recovering dues from taxpayers rather than resorting to arrests. “Let them recover the amounts owed. Arresting them is not appropriate. This was part of our discussion,” he said.
According to Shivakumar, nearly all states supported this perspective, with only one dissenting opinion. The discussions aimed to ensure that measures under the GST framework are not misused against traders and businesses.
Shivakumar indicated that further details regarding the central government’s response to Karnataka’s pending funds would be shared after additional talks with the Finance Ministry.
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