Maha Govt refuses to make ‘The Kashmir Files’ tax-free

 

Mumbai: Amid the decision by various BJP-ruled states, including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh  and Madhya Pradesh, to  make Vivek Agnihotri-directed controversial film tax-free, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday refused to grant tax exemption to “The Kashmir Files”, a film based on mass killings and the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s. 

Making a statement in the State Assembly, Maharashtra Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar – who also holds the state Finance portfolio—said that the state government had no plans to follow the suit of the BJP-ruled states and grant tax exemption to the film “The Kashmir Files”.  “If the Union government so desires, it can grant tax exemption to “The Kashmir Files”. If the Centre does it, it will apply to the entire country," he said.

Pawar’s statement came a day after the BJP MLAs raised slogans in the State Assembly demanding tax exemption for “The Kashmir Files”. BJP MLA Nitesh Rane had initially demanded tax exemption for the film. Subsequently, other BJP leaders submitted a memorandum to the Maharashtra government.

Alluding to the BJP’s demand for making “The Kashmir Files” tax-free, Pawar said: “You will remember that in the past we had granted tax exemption to films like Mission Mangal, Tanaji, Super 30 and Panipat.. If you look at the tax exemption, there are two components – 50 per cent of CGST and another 50 per cent of SGST. Since  Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke in glowing terms about “ The Kashmir Files”, it is in fitness of things that he announces tax exemption for the film”.

 “If the Maharashtra government takes a decision, it is only SGST and it applies only our state. If the Centre grants CGST exemption on the film, it will apply to the entire country. Why can’t he take such a decision for the entire country?,” Pawar asked.                    

Starring Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar, Mithun Chakraborty and Pallavi Joshi, The Kashmir Files has become a sensation at the box office. The  film has already been declared tax-free in the BJP-ruled states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Haryana and Bihar.

Given that Maharashtra is ruled by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) – comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, it is quite unlikely that the MVA government will ever grant tax exemption to The Kashmir Files” , which is being seen by the Opposition as more of a propaganda film for the BJP in the run-up elections in Gujarat to be held later this year.

(Agenices)