‘Luxury items’ Samosas, sweets, mosquito repellent to attract 13.5% tax in Bihar

Patna: After having announced a liquor ban in the state from April 1, the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U)-RJD appears to be looking at all options to make up for the possible Rs 4000 crore loss to exchequer.

The government has now decided to impose 13.5 per cent tax on luxury items including on sweets priced more than Rs 500 a kg and mosquito repellant among others.

13.5 per cent tax would be also be taken on salty items like samosa, kachauri and branded namkin among others.

Decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of state cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Dry fruits have also been brought under the ambit of the new tax.

The state government has even put a tax on branded clothes costing over Rs 500 besides making some construction material costlier.

No wonder the Opposition BJP has termed the government’s new taxes as an attack on the ‘Roti, Kapda, Makaan’ of the aam Bihari.