Congress protests at GST council meet

Guwahati: In what led to chaos and confusion, the crucial goods and services tax (GST) council meeting, started off with a drama on Thursday with Assam Congress leaders registering a strong protest outside the venue, demanding roll back of indirect taxes on various domestic products and changes in slabs of 28 per cent.

Former chief minister Tarun Gogoi and opposition leader Debabrata Saikia who led the protest of Congress workers courted arrest outside the Hotel Redisson Blue where two-days long goods and services taxcouncil meeting started here on Thursday.

“We are protesting against the reckless goods and services tax which has thrown dozens of small-scale industries of the state on verge of closure,” said former chief minister Tarun Gogoi.

Mr Tarun also alleged that Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who is the member of council has failed to take up the difficulties faced by many cottage industries of the state due to GST.

GST officers across states are meeting on Thursday to create a consensus on key issues and lay the foundation for the upcoming minister-level Council meeting to be chaired by Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Friday.

Sources said that the Council has an exhaustive agenda for the 23rd meeting that includes trimming of items in the 28 per cent slab by 75 per cent, easier compliance for assesses and small taxpayers and conceptual discussion on the inclusion of real estate in the goods and services tax.

The Council may also allow quarterly return filing for all taxpayers- a suggestion that has found support from the group of ministers (GoM), led by Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The GOM report is aid to have backed the move of allowing businesses to file quarterly returns.

Meanwhile, sources also said that the Friday meeting will be a stormy one and create a consensus that may not be very easy as the Congress-ruled states finance ministers have formulated a joint agenda to raise it in the council meeting.