Govt hopes Cong changes stance on GST

The Modi government feels the Congress’ insistence on capping the GST rate at 18% in the legislation itself is “not in the interest” of the country.

The  Centre also hopes that the main opposition party would see reason. Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said on Tuesday that the government was engaging with the leaders of the Congress party with an aim to bring them around to support the Goods and Services Tax Bill. Also, the Centre has pinned its hopes on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s support for the much-delayed economic reform measure that has been hanging fire in the Rajya Sabha for more than a year.

“One madam has given green signal from Kolkata. Now, I hope that from the other side also the signal will come,” Naidu said when asked whether he would reach out to the AIADMK supremo afresh after she was re-elected to power in Tamil Nadu.