The CPI chose to boycott the midnight launch event of GST as the new tax regime “hurts” the interests of the States and allegedly concentrates revenue resources in the hands of the Centre, a senior party leader said.
“We feel a midnight special session is not necessary as this system hurts states and concentrates revenue resources in the hands of the Centre,” CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy told reporters on Friday.
Though the CPI supported GST “in principle”, it is alive to the concerns being expressed by various sections against the GST, he said. The GST is being rolled out without taking into consideration the views of certain sections that the slab system in it is “unscientific”, Reddy alleged.
He demanded that the government revisit the slab system and make changes so as to reduce the inconvenience caused to large sections of people.
Talking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks against cow vigilantism, Reddy said the reaction is “too late and too little”.