Hyderabad: The latest agreement between the Congress and the BJP on the Goods and Services Tax Bill once again confirms the match-fixing between both the parties; the details of their collusion will come out once the Winter Session starts, said CPI (M) general-secretary Sitaram Yechury on Sunday. Mr Yechury was addressing the opening session of the party’s state committee meeting here.
He reminded that it was the BJP-ruled states that had vigorously opposed the GST Bill during the UPA regime. “It was the Modi-led Gujarat that was in the forefront of this opposition and unfortunately, now he is introducing the Bill,” the Left leader said.
Mr Yechury said that any unilateral implementation of the GST wouldn’t be possible and the Centre would need to work out definite policy measures in consultation with states, which are worried about prospective loss of tax revenue.
The states can increase the sales tax to recover the losses that they have been incurring due to the VAT. In this regard, the CPI (M) has submitted a policy stand to the GST empower committee way back in 2005, he said.
Mr Yechury made light of the PM’s efforts to boost investments in defence and media sectors. Those investments are not only a threat to the country, but will also hamper the employment creation, he claimed.
The veteran communist leader said that the replacement of Planning Commission with NITI Aayog, which has no Constitutional powers, has undermined the growth of the North East. The states are not getting the 10 % funds that they used to receive from the Planning Commission and the Prime Minister hasn’t been attending the North East meeting despite repeated requests from the Chief Ministers of those states, he said.
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