The government expressed confidence on Saturday over the ending of the logjam over the Goods and Service Tax (GST) Bill, saying that the meeting between PM Narendra Modi and top Congress leaders had been a positive one.
Union Minister said:
“The Prime Minister himself rung up Sonia ji and Manmohan ji requesting them to come over for a discussion on various issues regarding the 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.”
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.
He said that the Congress party has raised three issues with the present format of the bill.
“Jaitley explained yesterday the salient features of the Bill and Sonia ji 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.
He said that both the FM and he, himself, are in touch with Congress leaders over the issue of GST.
“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.
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 states.
(With ANI inputs)