CPM Wants All Party Meeting on GST
YESTERDAY, we reported the CPM Finance Minister of Kerala supporting GST. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) yesterday issued a Statement in New Delhi,
The Central Committee noted the obduracy of this Modi Government in refusing to call an all party meeting to build a consensus over the GST during the last two years. The GST as proposed today has certain weaknesses that need to be addressed and solutions to be found.
With the introduction of the GST, whatever little residual power remains with the state governments to raise resources will be lost. In situations when national disasters occur or to fund the welfare schemes to improve people's livelihood, state governments will now have to remain at the mercy of the central government for funds. Further, the mechanism to compensate the states that lose their revenue with the introduction of the GST will have to be properly addressed. A meeting of all the state finance ministers should be convened by the Prime Minister to discuss this issue thoroughly and come to a consensus.
The CPI(M) had given its note of dissent in the Select Committee of Parliament which contained our reservations which need to be properly addressed. The Central Committee reiterates that the PM immediately call an all party meeting to build a consensus on this issue.