Kovilpatti (Tamil Nadu), March 31 AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami has said his party would push for a reduction in the GST rate for the match industry in order to support the sector.
Addressing a campaign in Kovilpatti in Tuticorin district on Monday night, he said his party has sought a reduction in the Goods and Services Tax for the industry from 18 per cent to 12 per cent. "We will urge the center to reduce the GST for the match industry by 5 per cent," the AIADMK general secretary assured.
The matchbox and fireworks industries are mainly concentrated in the Kovilpatti and Sivakasi areas of Tamil Nadu, employing lakhs of workers.
The former chief minister said his party previously took steps to reduce GST on the fireworks and match industries. He assured to form a welfare board for the workers of these industries when the party comes to power after the April 23 Assembly election.
Earlier, addressing a rally in Kadayanallur, he vowed to eradicate drug trafficking in the state and create a drug-free Tamil Nadu when his party comes to power. He promised to increase relief assistance for salt-pan workers during the rainy season and announced Rs 10 lakh compensation for palm workers in case of accidental death.
At the Kadayanallur poll rally, Palaniswami, the leader of the opposition, made a fresh promise of providing "high-quality rice" at PDS shops similar to the "good quality rice sold in private shops."
"This is certain; high-quality rice will be supplied in ration shops, despite the expenditure," he said.
He criticized the ruling DMK for "harboring" those expelled from his party and said it would gain nothing from them in the ensuing Assembly elections.
Palaniswami said the DMK had given tickets to 19 leaders expelled from the AIADMK. These include expelled leaders O Panneerselvam and R Vaithilingam.