Open for discussions: Cong on GST

Targeting Narendra Modi, Gandhi said he believes the country could be run from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and that he alone could transform the country. “We will go with an open mind if the Government calls us for a structured consultation over the issue”, Azad said.

Congress tonight struck a cautious note after the first ever discussions with the government to thrash out a solution on the GST bill which the Centre is keen to pass in the current session of Parliament. “I hope the Congress sticks to the good it proposed rather than flaw it”, he had said. This assumes significance as the Government and the Congress are at loggerheads which is stalling the passage of crucial legislations like the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who was also present during the deliberations, said: “The Congress party leaders put forth their position with regard to the three issues of the Bill, which they felt are of concern to them”.

“I have personally discussed with nearly every leader of the Congress party, more particularly in Parliament and I am emphasising the word every leader of the Congress party”, Jaitley told Times Now news channel.

Prime Minister will intervene towards the end of the discussion in both Houses, he said.

The Congress president is expected to hold discussions with senior Congress leaders before reverting to the Government with her response. It also wants a proposed inter-state state levy to be scrapped.

After passing of the Bill in Parliament, the process of separate legislation for Central GST(CGST), Integrated GST (IGST) and State GST (SGST) will began which is major concern for the trade & industry and which will give an opportunity to the stakeholders to submit their concerns.

The Bill had been passed in the Lok Sabha during the monsoon session as the government has a majority in the Lower House, but got stuck in the Rajya Sabha where the NDA lacks numerical strength.

“If you read the preamble of Constitution of India that starts with Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Practice”.

“We are willing to discuss with them and try and find the best possible solution”, he said.

He also claimed that “in the meeting, there was a clear support for the GST”.

The BJP-led government needs Congress’ support to push the bill through in the Rajya Sabha or the upper house of Parliament, where it is in a minority. The issue of intolerance was being raised so that the Modi government won’t be able to deliver on its promises, according to the report.