Country needs three reforms: Maharashtra governor

COIMBATORE: Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan on Tuesday said taxpayers should not be put under pressure and they should be encouraged.

Radhakrishnan was addressing a GST Day 2025 event in SNR Auditorium at Nava India in Coimbatore.

He said after the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST), the country’s tax revenue increased. Currently, the revenue increased to Rs 22 lakh crore, and the GST revenue in the Coimbatore zone increased by more than Rs 3,000 crore. “These funds help implement various development projects across the country,” he said.

He said the country needs three reforms -- namely judicial, tax and electoral reforms.

“When the One Nation and One Election is implemented, the election expenses will also come down. Reforms are also needed in the income tax department. Those who kept thousands of crores of rupees in black money are getting away with it. They are not punished. No society will progress without eradicating corruption. Those who pay taxes honestly should not be put under pressure. They should be encouraged,” said Radhakrishnan.

Dinesh Purushottamrao Pangarkar, principal commissioner, GST Executive Commissionerate, Coimbatore, said when the GST was implemented, the GST Coimbatore zone earned a tax revenue of Rs 1,105 crore. Now, the zone earned a tax revenue of Rs 3,906 crores.

Later, Radhakrishnan presented awards to entrepreneurs who paid GST honestly. Addressing reporters, he said criminals should be punished. At the same time, harassing innocent people should be avoided. The police should abandon the trend of punishing an innocent person as a criminal.

“When I took charge as the governor of Maharashtra, I demanded that electricity tariffs be reduced. The Maharashtra state govt set an example by reducing electricity tariffs. I request the Tamil Nadu govt to reduce electricity tariffs,” said Radhakrishnan.

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