Shimla, March 15 -- Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday strongly rebutted claims made by Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, who alleged that the hill state increased entry tax on vehicles from Punjab due to financial difficulties and inability to pay salaries and pensions on time.
The controversy erupted after Cheema, speaking in the Punjab Assembly, referred to the GST framework and said that the principle of "one nation, one tax" generally prevents states from imposing such levies on each other. He described Himachal Pradesh's decision to raise entry fees for vehicles coming from Punjab as "unfortunate" and hinted that the neighbouring state's financial stress might have prompted the move.
Cheema a...