'Govt against high taxation'

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the Narendra Modi government does not believe in a high taxation regime but is being pro-business and pro-poor at the same time.

Addressing a BJP function here, Jaitley said there is nothing wrong in being "pro-business" as the country wants investments for better economic growth which in turn will lead to job creation and higher revenue for the government.

"Unless government gets revenue, it cannot build infrastructure and service the welfare schemes for the poor. By being pro-business and pro-poor, I am not contradicting but both have to exist at the same time," Jaitley said.

On retrospective taxation which the past government had brought in thus spooking investors, Jaitley said the imposition of the retrospective tax created a negative sentiment about the country.