Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs HN Ananth Kumar is optimistic about the roll out of GST Bill from April. He told the mediapersons in Bengaluru on Tuesday that he was confident that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) would be rolled out from April, as Government is pushing ahead with the agenda.
He said, “Our discussions with the Opposition parties and GST Council is an ongoing process, and I’m confident that once we have passed the Constitutional Amendment Bill without any opposition in both the Houses of the Parliament, ultimately GST council will also come out with unanimous decisions, so that it can be given a legal framework in the Parliament of India.”
Kumar was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 21st Convocation of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru.
The Council, headed by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and comprising State Finance Minister, has so far met seven times after Parliament amended the Constitution for implementation of GST.
The next meeting is scheduled for January 3 and 4 to decide on the contentious issue of dual control over assesses and the legislation on IGST.
"I am trying my best," Jaitley had earlier said on the April 1 roll out schedule, adding that "I am not going to bind myself with anything. Our effort is to do it as quickly as possible and I think we are making a reasonable headway."
On the demonetisation move, Kumar said Prime Minister's direct target is on those who are in favour of black money, corruption, fake currency and terrorism that originate with its help.
Stating that the people of the country are with the Prime Minister in his fight against corruption and black money, he said, "Its echo effect was visible in the by-elections at different places."
The union government intends to roll out the GST regime from April, but there are apprehensions that the date would be missed because the all-powerful GST Council is yet to iron out several vexed issues, including jurisdiction of Centre and state governments over tax payers.