BJP, Congress must not jump to take credit for GST: TMC

Kolkata, Aug.3 (ANI): With the Goods and Services Bill (GST) Bill likely to be approved by the Rajya Sabha today, the Trinamool Congress said that the credit for it must to go all those parties who have been relentlessly rooting for the bill and not just the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Taking a swipe at both the major national parties, TMC leader Derek O'Brein told ANI that the "ping-pong" match between the Congress and BJP has delayed the Bill by over ten years. "We should debate it today and pass it. But, this ping-pong match between the Congress and the BJP has been going on 10 years. Now both want to take the credit. The credit must go, not only to Congress and BJP, but all those non-congress, non-BJP parties, who have been consistent on supporting the GST, like Trinamool Congress. We have pushed it very hard in the select committee. It is now time to roll out GST," he said. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will move four amendments to the Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, meant for the rollout of the GST in the Rajya Sabha, when it is taken up for consideration and passage. Union Minister Ananth Kumar yesterday said the leaders of the various political parties have assured support to the government in the passage of the GST Bill. "The honourable Prime Minster had in the all-party meeting and the NDA meeting prior to the beginning of this session urged all that the GST is in favour of the country, a win-win situation for all and extremely necessary for India's economic development," Kumar told the media here. Kumar, who is the Ministers for Chemicals and Fertilizers, expressed optimism that the GST Bill, which would be passed by majority, will boost the nation's economy. The Congress yesterday assured full support with regard to the GST Bill passage in the Rajya Sabha and said if the Centre doesn't come up with something new then this tax reform might get its nod. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the grand old party does not have much to do with the GST Bill, adding it is for the Centre to work it out with the states and help the bill sail through in the Parliament. The Union Cabinet had cleared changes in the Bill earlier on Wednesday dropping one percent additional tax on inter-state sales and providing guarantee to compensate states for any revenue loss in the first five years of rollout. The government needs the support of two-third members of the Upper House to amend the Constitution to turn the GST into law. The GST Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in May last year but is stuck in the Rajya Sabha due to resistance from the opposition. (ANI)