BJP delayed GST for its political convenience, charges Opposition

The Opposition has blamed the Centre for not passing the GST Bill. While the Congress said it is ready for a special session on the Bill if the government addresses its concerns, the Left parties said the BJP does not want the Bill to be passed to cement an alliance with AIADMK.

When asked if the GST rollout will miss the deadline of April 1 2016, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said deadlines are set by governments. “I can’t talk about deadlines. All I can say is let the government respond to our demand for discussion and arrive at a consensus on some fundamental objections that we raised against the GST Bill.

“If they reach us and come to some consensus on these fundamental objections, I am sure my party which is the party that authored the GST, will consider it. We want the GST, but we want a good GST. Certainly not this GST, which is riddled with problems,” Chidambaram said.

Maintaining that the Congress Parliamentary Party will take a decision on the special session, he added: “But I don’t see any reason why the party will not cooperate provided the BJP accepts the fundamental objections that we have raised and finds a consensus.”

The Left parties said even if the monsoon session had taken up the GST, still it would have gone to the States, still it would have gone through the procedures since it is a Constitutional amendment. “Law making in India is a very detailed process and it is good,” said CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury.

He said there was a political necessity for the BJP not to pass the GST now.

“They are in search for allies among the regional parties who are opposed to the GST. But they are blaming Opposition for not passing it. The session could have functioned if the government adhered to the norm of good governance. If the government is facing serious allegations, and it institutes an investigation, the person against whom allegations are levelled do not hold any office,” Yechury said.

He said the Centre did not want land acquisition Bill passed because of the Bihar elections and the GST is not passed because the BJP wants an alliance with AIADMK. He added that AIADMK has a point in opposing GST.

“This point is shared by all producing States. How do you make them face their losses? For how many years will the Centre compensate? After VAT and GST, the States will have no ways to generate revenues. They will have to go to the Centre asking for revenues. All tax regimes should be revenue neutral, not revenue fair,” Yechury added.

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