According to a media report, the central govt’s decision to impose income tax on cooperative banks has drawn Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala’s anger and fulmination. The governor warned if the decision is not resisted the center may even impose service tax on cooperative banks.
The governor called upon the people associated with cooperative banks to immediately come out in protest against the central govt’s decision. The governor was airing his views after inaugurating the centenary celebrations of a urban cooperative bank.
The governor said cooperative banks serve the poor especially the weaker sections of society, the govt at the center must understand this and desist from imposing any taxes on cooperative banks. The governor went as far as to urge people not to vote for the govt in the next election that does not withdraw the decision.
Noting that the Cooperative sector has great potential in reviving the economy, Mr Vala gave the example of Verghese Kurien, popularly known as the milkman of India, who brought about a revolution in the dairy sector and helped innumerable people in Gujarat to gain financial stability.
Stating that banks should adopt modern technology in their functioning, the governor praised the Congress government for launching the ‘Mobile-One’ service for getting details of all schemes on the mobile phone. “This is the classic example of implementation of modern technology in government works,” he said.
Observers are of the view that the governor’s barbed criticism of the center stands out against the general trend aligning with the center.
