Congress condemns Finance Bill, brands amendments as 'anti-economy'

New Delhi [India], Mar. 29 (ANI): Condemning the Finance Bill which was passed today, the Congress said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was acting headstrong in the matter and not heeding the Opposition, adding that the amendments are against the economy. "Earlier the Income Tax Commissioner and the director had the authority to give the permission for search and seizure. Now in these two amendment, 132 A and 133, they have given the authority to the Assistant Commissioners to do the income tax raid without any search warrant. These amendments are against businessmen and economy at large," Congress leader Digvijaya Singh told ANI. He added that the junior officers should not be given such powers since the Income Tax Department is already notorious in terms of corruption. "I don't think the current government listen to anybody. We condemn this because if the Assistant Commissioners are given this much authority then illegal activities will take place," Singh said. He said these amendments are in favour of income tax workers only. "Huge amount of corruption will be witnessed where only the BJP members will benefit," Singh said. Meanwhile, Union Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh said even though the BJP has won in amendments, it will not make the system transparent neither will benefit the public. The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Finance Bill after various amendments presented by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. "As far as benefits are concerned, you can produce Aadhar. If you don't have one, you can produce other ID and simultaneously apply for it," said Arun Jaitley. He further said that the Government will issue electoral bonds. "There are lot of wild information going around over the authority of assessment officers over search and seizure," added Jaitley. "Let me clarify this under section 132, a satisfaction note must be submitted before search and entering premise and that has to be submitted in the court," he added while notifying that the Finance Bill protects the source of information for tax evasion. Earlier, Jaitley moved four Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bills for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha, which then took them up for discussion. The Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Bill, 2017, along with three other GST Bills were moved for consideration in the lower house. (ANI)