CPM calls for all-party meeting on GST issue

The CPI(M) on Monday said that the government should reach out to all political parties for discussing issues related to the GST Bill and thinking that dealing only with Congress was “sufficient’’ was not right in Parliamentary democracy. Party general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the CPI (M) was “completely out of loop” as far as developments related to GST were concerned and “does not know” what the government was planning to bring as GST Bill. He said the government should convene an all-party meeting to build consensus on the crucial legislation. “Why are you not calling the meeting for building consensus Now this government seems to think that dealing with Congress is sufficient. But that I don’t think is a correct method in our Parliamentary democracy,” Mr Yechury said.

The Left leader said the government is “pre-occupied” with Congress over GST keeping in mind the numbers in Rajya Sabha, thinking if the NDA and the UPA major reach an agreement, “anything can be passed”. “What it the understanding is we don’t know. We requested the finance minister to give us a copy of resolution adopted on GST by state finance ministers. But that has not happened so far. So, what is happening on that course is only they can answer or the Congress maybe. But we are completely out of the loop,” Mr Yechury added. He claimed that the GST bill would deprive states their “right to raise resources” through sales tax and surcharge or cess and asked government to address the issue. Otherwise, Mr Yechury claimed, the states “will have to come with a begging bowl to the Centre, placing them at the Centre’s mercy” every time there is fund requirement or disasters.

Mr Yechury reasoned that every time there is a situation calling for waiver, then it will require bringing Constitutional amendment. “The Constitution should not deal with such issues,” he said.