Congress Seeks Moderation In Corporate Tax Cuts

Members of Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) executive yesterday suggested during a meeting that the party should ask the government to moderate the budgetary proposals to slash corporate tax. They also expressed concern about the proposed voluntary disclosure scheme and about small-scale industries.

Party chief Sitaram Kesri, who chaired the meeting, told the members that the party would cooperate with the government to pass the budget, but the partys concerns would be conveyed to the finance minister next Monday.

The Congress delegation would request the finance minister to make some modifications in his budgetary proposals.

Among the issues which Congress Parliamentary Party executive members raised were the need to increase allocations for the Indira Awas Yojana, the midday meal schemes and the social sector in general. They also wanted the rebate on khadi to be restored.

Some members raised non-budget concerns, particularly about the pay commission report, some of the provisions of the Lokpal bill and the Broadcasting Bill. Kesari told them he would convene separate executive meetings to discuss each of these three issues.

He also indicated that he would convene a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party general body next week.

The meeting scheduled for April 20 had been expected to generate some heat over the March 30 decision to withdraw support to the Gowda government but it was postponed.

Now with the Gujral government firmly in place, the dust has settled over that episode and party managers do not expect members to embarrass Kesari over it.

Some members aligned with former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao or Rajesh Pilot may, however, try to embarrass Kesari by asking that the party take a firm stand against Janata Dal President Laloo Prasad who may be charged by the Central Bureau of Investigation for alleged involvement in the fodder scam.

The Congress has refused to take a stand until the charges are actually filed.