Bunking GST class: Leaders trot out excuses

Mumbai: After skipping the workshop on Goods and Services Tax (GST) arranged at Vidhan Bhavan, members of both legislative houses are giving various reasons for skipping it. While some prominent leaders explained how they are preparing for the important bill on their own, others assured to study about the bill before the special GST session of the state legislatures on May 20.

The Asian Age reported on Wednesday about how more than 280 members of the Assembly and Council out of the total 365 did not turn up for the workshop organised to educate them about it.

Two-time MLA Yashomati Thakur of Congress, when asked why she had not attended the workshop, said, “I had some prior commitment in my constituency. But our party legislators will meet on the morning of May 20 and be briefed by experts.”

Dilip Sopal from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a five-time MLA and former minister, did not attend the session. He said, “We are serious about the bill and its outcome. That’s why our party has asked MLC Hemant Takle, who understands taxation, to brief us prior to the (special) session.”

Some bigwigs from different parties said they are studying the issue. Former finance minister Jayant Patil of NCP said, “Though I could not attend the workshop due to prior meetings, I’ve been studying and following up the matter from the start. I have had a few sittings on the issue with renowned economists like professor Gokhale of Pune University and with a few senior journalists as well. Our party is also going to arrange special lecture once the tax slabs for all goods are decided by the GST council.”

Congress leader Narayan Rane also blamed prior commitments for not attending the workshop. However, he said, “You can go through my speech on the budget during the last session (of the ssembly). I had given a brief idea about how the state should prepare to tackle revenue loss that could be caused by GST. But now we are waiting for the exact tax slabs to be finalised by the GST council. Only then can we speak on the details of the bill.”