The Modi government's Goods and Services Tax (GST) law is "very, very imperfect" and cannot be labelled "one nation, one tax" as it has seven or more tax rates, said senior Congress leader P Chidambaram
Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram at a press conference on GST. PIC/PTI
The Modi government's Goods and Services Tax (GST) law is "very, very imperfect" and cannot be labelled "one nation, one tax" as it has seven or more tax rates, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said in New Delhi yesterday.
The Congress will press for reduction in tax rates and demand a cap of 18 per cent, besides seeking to bring petroleum, electricity and real estate under the new tax regime, the former finance minister said.
"This is a very, very imperfect law. This is not the GST which we (the UPA) had envisaged...What has been implemented, however, is a GST with seven, or possibly more, rates. It is a mockery of GST.
"When we have rates like 0.25, 3, 5, 12, 18, 28 and 40, and possibly more because of the discretion vested with state governments, how can we call this a 'one nation, one tax' regime?" he asked. He said the Congress would articulate fears and grievances of small, medium size and multi-state businesses and consumers.
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