Minister upset that IPL is not being taxed

Mumbai: "Take the case of the IPL. No one knows why they're not paying tax, who exempted them, how and why are they exempted. The Government can't function like this. The Government is beginning to think that the people are voting for them so there is no need for answers." Strong words from a man in government.

Indeed, this is not a routine statement issued from the BJP or Shiv Sena office. This is a senior Congress minister in the Maharashtra government, Patangarao Kadam, questioning the decision not to tax the Indian Premier League (IPL). (Comment: Should IPL be made to pay Entertainment Tax?)

He has taken umbrage at the Maharashtra cabinet first deciding to charge the IPL an entertainment tax and then the decision being reversed. Kadam wants to know why the volte face happened and why the cabinet was not consulted.

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan is not amused at his minister not respecting confidentiality within the cabinet.

"Where have we exempted them? The question arises only if we had first charged them then exempted them. We didn't charge them in the first place...I don't know what he's (Patangarao Kadam) has told you. I'll first speak to him about it and then comment," Chavan said.