(Image source from: Emitpost.Com)

Chidambaram Responds On GST, Says To Change GST Rates:- A “shower of changes” is expected from the GST Council meeting in Guwahati, said Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Friday. He, moreover, added that the “panic-stricken” Modi government is left with no option, but to change the new tax rate.

To discuss GST rates, the high-powered committee meeting is held in the Assam city, headed by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Chidambaram said, due to the Gujarat assembly elections next month, the government will be forced to heed the advice of the opposition and experts.

“Expect a shower of changes in GST rates from GST Council meeting today (on Friday). Panic-stricken govt has no option but to concede demands for change.

“Thanks to Gujarat elections, government forced to heed advice of Opposition and experts on flaws in implementation of GST,” he tweeted. Chidambaram said the tone for discussions in the GST Council on Friday, will be set by the letter from the finance ministers of Congress-ruled states to Jaitley.

Thanks to Gujarat elections, Govt forced to heed advice of Opposition and experts on flaws in implementation of GST.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) November 10, 2017

“Congress FMs letter exposes the structural flaws in the design and implementation of GST. Government can no longer duck these issues,” he said.

“The government had avoided debate and voting in Rajya Sabha on GST Bills but it cannot avoid a debate in the public domain or in the GST Council”, said the Congress leader.

Govt avoided debate and voting in Rajya Sabha on GST Bills. Now, they cannot avoid a debate in public domain or in the GST Council.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) November 10, 2017

“Congress FMs will force changes in GST Council meeting today (on Friday). Agra, Surat, Tiruppur and other hub towns are watching,” he said.

Congress FMs will force changes in GST Council meeting today. Agra, Surat, Tiruppur and other hub towns are watching.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) November 10, 2017

A major overhaul of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was demanded by finance ministers of Congress ruled states last week. They alleged that due to its “poor” implementation, the tax reform measure had turned out to be a “big disappointment”.

The country had “lost the opportunity” to bring tax reform and that there was “utter chaos and confusion”, forcing many businesses to shut down, alleged the Finance ministers of the Congress-ruled Punjab and Karnataka, Manpreet Badal nd Krishna Gowda. With regard to GST’s concept, design, tax rates, exemptions, compliance requirement and technological preparedness also, there was “poor implementation”, alleged the Ministers.

The party would demand reduction of tax rates for many items and raise other concerns of the business community in the Guwahati meeting of the GST Council, said the Ministers.

SUPRAJA