The Congress on Monday said the ruling BJP is divided on the GST Bill and that is why the government is unwilling to take the final step on it, fearing that it will increase inflation before the elect
The Congress on Monday said the ruling BJP is divided on the GST Bill and that is why the government is unwilling to take the final step on it, fearing that it will increase inflation before the electoral battle in UP. Responding to questions whether the Cong-ress is scuttling the bill, party spokesman Jair-am Ramesh said “no”.
“They are unwilling to take the final step and I repeat what I have been saying for two years — GST Bill has not come to the Rajya Sabha not because the Congress is opposing it, but because there are large sections within the BJP which are deeply uncertain about the bill... And that is the real reason why the bill has been delayed. That is apart from the fact that the PM had himself been opposed to the bill when he was the CM of Guja-rat,” Mr Ramesh said at the party briefing.
He said if the government is so confident about the bill then why is it reluctant to bring the bill in the Rajya Sabha for consideration and passing. “They talk big about the GST Bill, but when it comes to the crunch, they are unwilling to take the final step,” he said.
Asked whether the Congress agrees there will be inflationary consequences, he said that is the reason why the Congress has suggested, insisted 18 per cent cap. “If the GST rates becomes over 22-23 per cent as currently it is being suggested, it is bound to be inflationary. In order to contain inflation, in order to ensure that the burden of taxation does not fall on the poor, we have suggested 18 per cent cap.”
