TDP members stage walk out from Andhra Pradesh Council

The Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members today staged a walk out from the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council during Question Hour, alleging that the Minister had not properly replied to their question on reduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) on gold.Dissatisfied with the reply of State Minister for Roads and Building G Aruna Kumari on the question raised by TDP members Y V B Rajendra Prasad and Ch Varaprasad, the TDP members walked out of the House, protesting that the Chairman had not allowed them to raise supplementary questions.Earlier, the Minister said the rate of VAT had been enhanced with effect from January 15 this year from 12.5 per cent to 14.5 per cent on items like motor vehicle (except tractors) tyres and tubes, engine oil, lubricants, white goods, cement and cement products, cosmetics, cigarettes, gutka and furniture.She said an amount of Rs 19,814 crore had been realised during the current financial year till January 31, 2010, and there was no proposal to enhance the tax on any other item.
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