CHENNAI: Allaying public fears on the new GST (Goods And Service Tax) regime, Union Minister for Urban Development and Information and Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu today said GST was a revolutionary reform and not a confusion as many sections consider.
Speaking at a conference MODI (Making of Developed India) and GST, jointly organised by ICAI, South Indian Hotels and Restaurants Association, World Tamil Economic Foundation and Arma Medical Foundation, he said ‘GST is a good and simple tax regime.
”It has a history of 17 years behind its implementation. It has been the dream of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and has come into implementation after a lot of deliberations”, he said.
There could be no room for confusion as lot of discussions have taken place before its implementation, he added.
Mr Venkaiah Naidu said various programmes have been held across the country for GST and detailed deliberations were done.
”There may be some issues initially, but as time moves ahead they may be resolved”, he said.
The power to tax was now with the GST Council, which would be meeting from time to time. This will give enough scope to solve issues, he added.
”GST will help us in the long run and honest taxpayers and common people need not worry”, he said.
Mr Venkaiah Naidu said the GST would generate enough revenue which would be used for various welfare activities.
Speaking about different tax slabs in GST, he said ”all products are not the same. The way a car is taxed, salt cannot be”.
On reports of mob lynchings in the name of cow protection, Mr Venkaiah Naidu said ”Cow protection was as important as saving human lives.’
He asked the law enforcing agencies, including the police, at the district and the State level, to take effective action to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
The Union Minister also said that they were here to protect the people of Tamil Nadu.
”And for that they would work in coordination with the State government”, he added.
Speaking about achievements of BJP-led NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Venkaiah Naidu said ”Rs 28.52 crore Jan Dhan accounts were opened across the country. About 7.5 crore people got Mudra loans for starting own business across the nation.”
”While we have provided electricity connection to about 30,000 villages, about 5,000 would soon be electrified”, he added.
He also said the Buckingham Canal in the city would be developed as a waterway and another 104 waterways would be created in the country.
He said about 50 ‘B’ grade towns will be getting air connectivity, Mr Venkaiah Naidu said. (AGENCIES)
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