Our stand on GST remains same: Congress

Congress spokesperson slammed the govt for its plan to impose 2% cess for the 'Skill India' mission

There is no major forward movement on the GST issue even a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former PM Manmohan Singh to resolve the matter, Congress indicated today.

"I do not think Congress has moved away from the stand stated at the meeting with the Prime Minister. Our stand remains the same," Congress spokesperson Sushmita Dev told reporters.

Besides, she said, "brainstorming is on" within Congress on the concerns conveyed to the party leadership by the government.

Dev slammed the government for its plan to impose 2% cess for the 'Skill India' mission, thereby taking the total to 5% for different purposes including Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

"Today we heard an alarming new policy proposition, which will be another burden on common man. Why is common man being burdened for PM's pet projects - Make in India, Skill India, Swachh Bharat. How much more burden will the government put?

"In light of this, our fears on GST Bill are accurate. There has to be a cap of 18%. Otherwise it'll be difficult for people to cope with it," she said.

She also hoped that government would roll back the additional 1% cess brought to compensate the manufacturing states.

Besides, she faulted the government for bringing the GST bill to the Rajya Sabha soon after its passage in the Lok Sabha without holding any discussion with the opposition. "This does not amount to good consensus politics," she said.

Last Friday, the Prime Minister had reached out to the Congress keeping hopes alive for the enactment of the Goods and Services Tax Bill before the beginning of the next financial year.

The 45-minute meeting at 7, Race Course Road had not resulted in an immediate breakthrough, but it did serve to break the ice between the government and the Congress, with the latter consistently alleging that the ruling party was riding roughshod over the opposition in Parliament.