Don't make GST political issue: Venkaiah Naidu

Says after the bill is passed India's GDP will grow from 1.5 to 2%

Stating that the goods and services tax (GST) is the need of the hour, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday appealed to all parties not to make it a political issue.

"We can fight on other political issues, but the GST has been pending for the past seven years, while five successive finance ministers have made enough amendments and improvements in it as well," he said.

"Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, too, has held discussions with all states in the past one year over it. It's high time that the GST bill should be passed," said Naidu, who is also Union Minister for Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation.
 

 

"After the GST bill is passed our country's GDP will grow from 1.5 to 2%. We know that the world market is slowing down, China is little negative and India is the most attractive destination. So, this is a great opportunity for India, and we should take initiative and make the Indian economy more strong so that the interest rates can come down and we can spend more money on welfare," he added.

He said he was in touch with opposition parties, and was holding discussions with them, adding that their meaningful suggestions would be taken into consideration.