Pinarayi Vijayan stressed the need to allay the fears of people over the GST The Kerala CM wants steps to ensure that benefits are transferred to the ordinary citizens "Midnight celebration? We still need to conduct many 'day-long' public awareness campaigns about GST," he posted on FB
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that the midnight GST launch event in the Parliament was "not in good taste".
"While GST (Goods and Services Tax) is an important step towards reforming the tax system in the country, the hyped midnight celebration was uncalled for and not in good taste," the Kerala CM said in a Facebook post.
Pinarayi stressed the need to allay the fears of people over the GST and the necessity to make sure that companies comply with anti-profiteering clause. The CM also wanted steps to ensure that benefits are transferred to the ordinary citizens.
"Midnight celebration? We still need to conduct many 'day-long' public awareness campaigns about #GST, simplifying it for common public and address doubts of small traders," the CM said. The transition can be disruptive for many small and medium businesses in the country, he said, adding that many experts have questioned the reliability of the software powering the system.
Meanwhile, Kerala finance minister Thomas Isaac described the midnight launch of GST a "drama" and "political propaganda", saying GST is not as fundamental a change as VAT.
"I considered extension of VAT across the state boundaries... But to make a drama of this scale is certainly a political propaganda," said Isaac, a member of GST Council who has decided not to attend the midnight function at the Parliament.
The Kerala finance minister also accused the BJP of scuttling the GST in 2011. "In fact, discussions on GST started in 2009 and what position BJP had taken at time we know very well. In fact, the entire enterprise of GST was scuttled in 2011 because BJP decided to opposed it," Isaac said, adding "We are responsible for running state government and we are implementing GST."
Meanwhile, state BJP president Kummanam Rajasekharan said that the Congress and Left parties had kept away from the GST launch event due to "political blindness". "The GST is a historic step towards the economic reformation in the country. The boycott of the Congress and the Left from the launch function was unfortunate," the BJP leader said.
(with PTI inputs)
