As the Government on Saturday expressed hope that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill will be passed in Parliament and implemented soon, Congress Vice-President called his party’s leader in lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence to discuss the issue with a possible indication that a solution to it may be at hand.
“If our concerns are met, a formula is reached, then we can move ahead,” Kharge had told reporters before the meeting.
According to sources in the
BJP, a level of “flexibility” will have to be adopted by the Government to reach a consensus on the important legislation.
Union Parliamentary Affairs
Minister M Venkaiah Naidu indicated that a positive outcome may come out on the GST as the Congress ‘in principle’ agrees to it if few changes are carried out.
“The Prime Minister himself rung up Sonia and Manmohan requesting them to come over for a discussion on various issues regarding Parliament and to seek their cooperation. It was a good meeting, I was present there myself and there had been a free exchange of views on all matters. The discussion was more on the GST Bill which was initially brought by the UPA Government,” Union Parliamentary Affairs
Minister said.
Taking about the current status of the landmark Bill, Naidu added that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has held extensive consultations with various States and that the Bill has been referred to the select committee
and they have made their recommendations.
“Jaitley explained yesterday the salient features of the Bill and Sonia raised three issues. He explained the Government’s position and she said she will discuss it with her colleagues and come back for another discussion. She said it was their Bill so there was no question of not supporting it,” Naidu added.
The Union Minister stressed that it was a positive beginning and expressed his optimism that in the next round of discussions, they will be able to thrash out the differences and take the bill before the Parliament.
“Jaitley and I have been in
constant touch with Congress leaders in both houses of Parliament over
this matter. India is very keen that the GST, which is a revolutionary, taxation, transformation in the country, should be passed. Even students in Bangalore asked Rahul Gandhi that why this Bill was being blocked. 30
out of 32 parties have said they want the GST to be passed and I am confident now about its outcome,”
Naidu added.
Talking about the impasse over the Bill, he said that the Congress was clear on its position and had three differences with the BJP. He added that there would be further progress on the landmark reform only after the government fulfils the demands put forth by the Congress.
The three demands by Congress over the Bill are that they want to cap the rate of GST at less than 20 percent, scrap a proposed state levy and create an independent mechanism to resolve disputes on revenue sharing between s
Meanwhile, Minister of State for finance Jayant Sinha also expressed hope that the bill will be through.
“On the GST... We are hopeful, we remain hopeful,” Minister of State
for Finance Jayant Sinha said here while addressing the annual session of PHD Chamber of Commerce. Hopefully, the GST will be implemented soon, he added.
The Government needs Parliament approval for the GST Bill in the ongoing Winter Session to roll out the new indirect tax regime in 2016.