At a press conference, the CM said: “The previous government had failed to implement the VAT, which adversely affected the industrialisation process. It also failed to curb tax evasion.”

Slamming the Congress and the BJP, she said: “How could these parties oppose VAT when their governments in Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and other states have already implemented it.” She said the “opposition to VAT is politically motivated and lacks justification”.

With the implementation of VAT, Mayawati said, UP has entered into the national economic mainstream and will play an important role in the development of industry and commerce.

The CM said VAT was aimed to benefit the common people and would accelerate the pace of development in the state.

She claimed that the implementation of VAT in UP — the last state to do so after the new tax regime was introduced in April, 2005 — will stop smuggling of goods. The CM called upon the manufacturers and traders to pass on the benefit of the tax reduction to the consumers.