BJP has made GST Bill a prestige issue: Congress

Accusing the NDA Government of not incorporating the changes suggested by the opposition in the GST Bill, Congress leader P.L. Punia on Wednesday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made it a prestige issue.

"Congress party's view on this is very clear. UPA government wanted to bring the GST Bill, but they (BJP) opposed it. Now that they have brought it, we welcome it, but there are two to three things in it that needs to be changed. They are not willing to do it," Punia told ANI.

"They have made it a prestige issue. What is the need to bring GST if you do not fix maximum rate? There should be a mechanism to address the issues between states. These are the points which we have raised," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told the investors in Singapore yesterday that his government is hopeful of rolling out the GST in 2016.

The government needs the Congress's support so that the bill is passed in both houses of Parliament.

Speaking at the ASSOCHAM's 95th annual event on Tuesday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said that the government was reaching out to those suggesting changes on the GST Bill.

"We are willing to have discussions with them, and they too need to reconsider some changes they are suggesting," he added.

Earlier on Monday, the Finance Ministry initiated an exercise to effect the changes in the bill that the Congress has been seeking.