New Delhi ,March 29: The government on Monday announced the reappointment of UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi as NAC chairperson. As NAC head, Mrs Gandhi will hold the rank and status of a Cabinet minister with immediate effect.

Mrs Sonia Gandhi was initially said to be reluctant to head the NAC in the light of the “office-of-profit” controversy during her previous tenure which forced her resignation from the post four years ago. It was followed by her resignation as an MP too though she recontested and won from Rae Bareli. Now, having been assured that she need not have any worries on account of the “office-of-profit” issue, Mrs Gandhi has agreed to occupy the crucial post again.
The NAC was first constituted on May 31, 2004 with Mrs Gandhi resigning as head in March 2006. The council was finally wound up in May, 2008. When first set up, among its primary tasks was to monitor the UPA’s National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP). A powerful body in its initial years given that it was headed by the Congress president, it seemed to have lost its sheen once Mrs Gandhi left.  

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Delhi rolls back VAT on LPG
Age Correspondent
New Delhi

March 29: Delhi finance minister A.K. Walia on Monday announced a partial rollback of his Budget proposals and withdrew four per cent VAT on LPG. He also exempted CNG from the ambit of VAT. The exemption of VAT on LPG will make it cheaper by Rs 12.42 (from the hiked rate) following the Rs 40 subsidy withdrawal and will now cost Rs 310 from April 1.
Dr Walia dropped hints of an impending hike in the registration of vehicles in the national capital along with raising excise tax on liquor, which would offset a revenue loss of about Rs 200 crores due to the partial rollback. He, however, did not bow before pressure to roll back the decision to impose 20 per cent VAT on diesel.
The Delhi government, in its Budget proposals, had imposed five per cent VAT on CNG, which would have made it costlier by Re 1.09 per kg.
Dr Walia also rolled back a proposal to hike VAT from five per cent to 12.5 per cent on tea, coffee, cocoa, coffee beans and utensils. He also announced a rollback of the five per cent VAT on plastic and glass scrap, embroidery zari items, which would now be exempted from any tax. Also, the proposal to levy five per cent VAT on motion picture distribution has been withdrawn.

Parul Chandra