GST stuck due to collateral issues: Arun Jaitley

Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday hinted that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill may not get the parliamentary approval in the ongoing Winter Session. He, however, stated that Parliament may clear the Bankruptcy Bill.

While speaking at a function organised by Ficci, Mr Jaitley accused the Congress for delaying the GST for “collateral reasons”. “Some people do get sadistic pleasure in seeing India slow down. But then, it’s a sadistic pleasure at a very severe national cost. We can not allow that. The government will push through changes in the arbitration act and commercial court bill in the Rajya Sabha in the remaining crucial three days of the Winter Session, which ends on Wednesday,” said Mr Jaitley.

He also said “I have no doubt in my mind that attempt to delay the GST is entirely for collateral reasons”. He added that the only collateral reason he suspected was “if I (Congress) couldn’t do it, then why should somebody else do it ” He stressed that “a delayed GST is better than a flawed GST”.

Mr Jaitley also stated that he would “still urge and persuade” the Opposition to give up their rigidity on Constitution-prescribed tariffs. “The Constitution-prescribed tariffs actually can be an albatross around the neck of the future generation. And we owe it to them not to create situations of this kind,” he said.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Anand Sharma said: “It (GST) is not going to happen in this session. We will engage with them, but this is not the right time. April 1, 2016, is not sacrosanct and not achievable at all.”

The GST bill is stuck in the Rajya Sabha where the ruling NDA government does not have a majority, as well as stiff Opposition by the Congress.

The government had planned to roll out GST from April 2016. Asked if the Congress would support the Bankruptcy Bill, Mr Sharma said: “We are in favour of passing what is urgent, what is appropriate.”