No GST dues pending, some states have not submitted AG's report: Nirmala Sitharaman
GST dues of any state are pending before it and that some state governments have not submitted AG's authenticated certificate for release of their share of funds. The narrative that GST dues are pending from the Centre is not correct and is a «misnomer» as states have not submitted AG's report, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said replying to a supplementary question in Rajya Sabha.
«It is important to understand that if the AG's (accountant general) certification is (mandatory)… If the AG's certificate does not reach us, we can not clear,» she said.
«Some states, even after sending AG's certificate, tell us to hold on till they clear it finally, she said.
The finance minister was responding to a question from Trinamool Congress member Saket Gokhale, who asked about the GST dues of states, especially to West Bengal.
He also sought a reason for which the GST dues of the states were withheld.
Replying to it, the finance minister said she would specifically name some states „so that there are no doubts in the mind of the people“.
Goa has not submitted AG's certificate for FY 2017-18, FY 2018-19 and FY 2019-20. It is also yet to send the report for FY 2021-22 and the first quarter of FY 2022-23.
»For 2022-23 no state, except for Karnataka, has given AG's certificate as yet," she said.
West Bengal has also not submitted AG's report from FY 2019-20 to the first quarter of FY 2022-23.
«AG's certificate has not come from West Bengal, so the amount would not be released,» she said, adding, «to call it pending, I am sorry, its a misnomer.
