Despite GST thaw with Oppn, govt yet to cover long distance

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 28

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his predecessor Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, ministers from his Cabinet today reached out to more Opposition leaders in an attempt to ensure the passage of the crucial legislation in the winter session.

Banking on a “positive” indication from the Congress, the BJP functionaries hope the country would have its new tax reforms law before the session concludes next month. But mindful of the their experience with the Congress in the previous session and the AIADMK’s resistance on the Bill, another section in the ruling party feels the NDA government may still have to tread a long political road before the GST Bill became a reality. As such, the BJP leaders are not making any commitments, even unofficially.

The Bill will be put up for debate in the Rajya Sabha, which on Monday would continue to discuss the contribution of BR Ambedkar to the drafting of the Constitution.

Political analysts say that even if the BJP manages to win over the Congress, the AIADMK, with 37 members in the Lok Sabha, may make the going tough for the government on the Bill. The Congress too is yet to clear its stand.

While the Congress is firm on having 18 per cent limit on the GST rate, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is believed to be unrelenting on the point. BJP sources say the government may agree to waive 1 per cent levy for manufacturing states to placate the Congress, but it is unlikely to change the composition and state quota in the GST council.

Amid the uncertainty, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said the government was optimistic on the passage of the GST Bill. “(Congress president) Soniaji said in principle that they support the GST Bill… just a few changes need to be made. I am optimistic," said Naidu.