GST's missing links

The next time the Centre meets the Empowered Committee (EC) of State Finance Ministers to discuss the Goods & Services Tax (GST), both sides will miss some key negotiators. The states will no longer have on their side former EC Chairman Sushil Modi and former Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Raghavji, both with a good understanding of the GST and most active in GST meetings. The Centre might also miss its Joint Secretary V K Garg who resigned from government service recently. Garg had more experience dealing with the states on GST than his other colleagues. But since Raghavji, the most vocal opponent of GST, is no longer part of the EC on account of his resignation, officials from the finance ministry may not find it too difficult to deal with the states.