The Centre may call a meeting of states to sort out differences over implementation of value added tax from April 1, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh said on Friday.

''It is for the state governments to introduce VAT, but if some states do not implement it from the next fisal, we can call a meeting to discuss the issue,'' he said in Jaisalmer.

Singh reiterated that the Centre could only give advice on the subject. ''It is for states to implement it,'' he said.
He said VAT will benefit the states. A meeting of state finance ministers had favoured its implementation, he pointed out.

Singh's comments came amid indications that at least six states could defer implementation of the scheme from April 1e.

Speaking to UNI on Thursday, Rajasthan Finance Minister Pradyuman Singh had said that VAT will not be implemented in Rajasthan from April 1 since neighbouring states had postponed it and there was a threat of flight of business to these states.

Besides Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Chhattisgarh and Delhi are reportedly against the implementation of VAT from April 1.

UNI