Govt waives entertainment tax for Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata, April 19 The Left Front government has accepted Shah Rukh Khan’s proposal to waive the entertainment tax for the Kolkata Knight Riders during the IPL cricket match that is scheduled to be held at Eden Gardens on Sunday. The actor had requested the government to waive the tax on several occasions, but the latter had not responded to his request.

Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta has already approved Khan’s proposal. “I have no problem in waiving off the tax,” said Dasgupta.

While declaring the government’s decision, Dasgupta has imposed some of his own conditions. “I agree with Shah Rukh but he and others should promise that the profits earned from the game will be used for the development of the people living below the poverty line,” Dasgupta added.

Earlier, the government had planned to impose tax on a 10-minute entertainment show that Khan had planned for the viewers during breaks.

An official of the Finance department had said that Khan’s company would have to pay Rs 30 extra on each ticket.

“The government can waive off the tax. But we will lose around Rs 20 lakh if the tax is not imposed,” an official said.

Khan had earlier claimed that the entertainment show is not a three-hour show for which a viewer should pay the entertainment tax. “I won’t pay the tax as I don’t approve of the ticket price exceeding Rs 150. Why should a common man pay Rs 30 extra for a 10-minute show?” he had said.