Chennai, July 27 -- DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan on Sunday criticised the Centre on the Goods and Services Tax (GST), alleging the BJP-led government of "pickpocketing" state governments' money.

Elangovan argued that earlier, commercial tax was collected by states and then spent on states' welfare, accusing the Indian government of taking away a major revenue source for any state by implementing GST.

"Our money is pickpocketed by the BJP. What is this GST? Earlier, they were called commercial taxes, which were totally collected by the states and then spent on the states' welfare. It was the major revenue source for any state, which was taken away by the Indian government. After GST, you (the central govt) collect the tax and give it t...