Stating that Congress opposition to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill was “political”, the Government on Saturday said the legislation will be put to vote in the next Parliament session “even if Congress continues to oppose it”.
In an interview with All India Radio (AIR), Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley maintained that it had been a testing proposition as far as “reforms” are concerned. The Finance Minister said he is trying his best to make Congress come around on the GST Bill but would put it to vote in the next Parliament session even if the Congress continues to oppose it.
“Only one political party, the Congress, and that’s a political Opposition. That’s not an ideological Opposition. I am trying my best to talk to them, so that they can come around. And if they don’t, then, we’ll have no option but to put it to vote,” Jaitley told AIR.
Replying to a question on Direct Benefit Transfer scheme (DBT), the Minister said Government is not cutting subsidies but rationalising them. Jaitley elaborated that the objective of the Government is to ensure that the subsidies reach the poor.
Asserting that DBT was successfully implemented in lPG distribution, he pointed out that it is being tried in other areas like fertiliser and food.
“We’re not cutting subsidies. We are rationalising them. Subsidies must reach the vulnerable. Subsidies must only reach the poor. Thats the objective of the Government. And therefore, in lPG, we’ve successfully implemented it. And I think the next stage is that we’re trying other areas like fertiliser and food—pilot schemes, whether similar schemes are possible or not, “ the Minister said.
On job creation, the Minister acknowledged that jobs are being created in start ups and IT sector, but impressed that it is manufacturing sector which can create more jobs. He said within manufacturing sector, textile and clothing are job creators.
Observing that the reforms process has continued this year, he said the enactment of the Bankrupcy law will lead to upward movement regarding India’s ranking. But he also noted that the most important area affecting India’s ranking is the construction, building and real estate sector. He said these reforms have to take place at the level of States.