Consensus on most issues, says Arun Jaitley after GST Council meet

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said that the GST Council has arrived at a consensus on most issues pertaining to the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

He said discussions were held on Central GST and Integrated GST drafts in the meet. "Carrying forward the discussion in the next meeting to be held on December 11-12, the FM said that the agenda is completion of CGST and IGST drafts and discuss cross-empowerment law.

Jaitley said, "We have received a few suggestions on the critical issue of cross-empowerment and hope that it will lead to a positive result.

"Some state finance ministers wanted a discussion on their fiscal situation, and demonetisation, which does not come under the premise of the GST Council. But, because the emphasis was on it, we did have a discussion on it," said Jaitley.

"I expect that the next meeting will have draft approvals as the main agenda," he added.

However, taking an opposite stand from that of Jaitley's, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Issac said there will be no consensus if Centre does not change its stand.

"If the current government is ready to move from its stand on cross empowerment then there will be a conclusion otherwise there will be no conclusion," he said.