Watching movies, TV to be dearer in city

Watching movies and television will be dearer in the national Capital from Monday with the Aam Aadmi Party government issuing a notification of an increase in entertainment tax.

The proposal to increase entertainment tax from 20 per cent to 40 per cent was tabled by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in Assembly last month and the government has now notified its decision.

“Watching movies in cinema halls in Delhi will be costlier from July 20 as government has issued the notification in this regard,” said a senior government official. Apart from this, watching television through cable and DTH services will also cost more as the decision to increase the entertainment tax on these services from Rs 20 to Rs 40 was also notified by the AAP government.

The official also said that government may also notify its decision to increase luxury tax from 10 per cent to 15 per cent in next week. According to the official, the file pertaining to luxury tax has been sent to its law department for its clearance before notifying this decision.

On Wednesday, the Arvind Kejriwal-government increased the VAT rate on petrol from 20 per cent to 25 per cent and on diesel from 12.5 per cent to 16.6 per cent, resulting in an increase in the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs 2.78 per litre and 1.83 per litre (approx) respectively.

The BJP and Congress also criticised the government’s move, accusing it of “cheating” people.