GUWAHATI: Congress vice-president and MP Rahul Gandhi today said the party was ready to support the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill in Parliament if the government resolves the three points raised by the Congress.
He added that there was no link between the opposition to the GST Bill in the present format to the National Herald case, which the Congress has been alleging is politically motivated. Interacting with journalists here on the second day of his two-day tour of Assam, Mr Gandhi pointed that it was the Congress which had brought in the GST Bill and PM Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had vehemently opposed and rubbished the Bill then.
We (the Congress), on the other, have always been pushing for the GST Bill. It is important since it makes India less complicated, cuts down on red tapeism and allows goods to move,? he said.
He said the Congress has differences on three points with the government in the current format of the Bill the dispute mechanism, involving stakeholders in settling disputes and no cap on tax that can be levied by the government.
Mr Gandhi said the Congress was particularly opposed to enabling the government to levy unlimited tax, as per a provision of the GST Bill in the present format.
He said, The Congress party represent the poor people. It does not want power to the government to levy unlimited tax and put weight on the common people.
If these differences are resolved, the Congress is ready to pass it (GST Bill),? Mr Gandhi added.
The Congress leader also rubbished media reports that the party was stalling the GST Bill due to the National Herald case.
He said, There is absolutely no link between the GST Bill and the National Herald case. These are separate matters.
In the interaction with the journalists, Mr Gandhi dwelt on the current political scenario in the country and the Congress preparedness for next year?s Assembly elections in the state.
He exuded confidence of the party retaining power in the state for a fourth straight term, under the leadership of CM Tarun Gogoi. (AGENCIES)
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