Each and every representation from the trade and industry on implementation of the GST Bill is being discussed and deliberated upon, a senior CBEC official today said.
“The government can assure you that each and every representation received from the trade and industry is discussed and deliberated upon. It may or may not be part of the final GST law, but with a certain amount of certainty, I can say it is deliberated upon,” said DG (GST) CBEC Mahender Singh at an industry event here.
The assurance comes a day after the Cabinet, in an effort to break the logjam, cleared changes in the GST Bill, dropping 1 per cent additional tax on inter-state supply of goods and promising compensation to states for any revenue loss for first five years of the rollout.
Showing a sense of renewed urgency, the government today reached out to the leaders of several Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, over the Bill, which is likely to be taken up by the Rajya Sabha next week.
According to sources, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley separately met the leaders of the Congress, the Left, the SP and the JD(U) and discussed with them various provisions of the legislation.
“Talks are on with various parties on GST,” a senior government functionary said.
The industry, Singh said, has raised various issues relating to the Goods and Services Tax Bill and wants to know whether the government would consider their views, suggestions and doubts.
“This is my assurance on behalf of CBEC and the government that we encourage interaction with trade and industry and we are always willing to listen to their views, suggestions, doubts and apprehensions,” he added.
Speaking at the same event organised by Assocham, Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) former chief Sumit Dutt Majumder said the industry and all stakeholders should go through the GST law thoroughly and in detail as “once it becomes an Act, it will be difficult to amend the same”.