THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finance Minister KN Balagopal said in the Assembly that the central government issued an order imposing a tax on essential commodities, contrary to the decision of the GST Council meeting. "Strong protests have been raised in the Council against the increase in GST on daily consumption goods. The state government is of the view that the tax rate on daily consumption goods should be reduced and the tax rate on luxury goods should be restored," he said.