GST cap can’t be in statute: Arun Jaitley

Expressing the hope that the GST Bill will be passed in the second half of the Budget Session, finance minister Arun Jaitley said Thursday it was difficult to accept the Congress’ demand to put a cap on the GST rate in the pending Constitution Amendment Bill. “Our tariff is not decided through a Constitution amendment,” he said.

“Today, every state government, including all Congress ones, is in favour of GST. Every political party in Parliament has said it will vote in favour,” he said. The Lok Sabha has already passed the GST Bill but it is pending ratification by the Upper House, where the NDA does not have a majority.