This refers to the editorial “GST on slow track” (October 22). It has now become clear that opposition from three states, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, will delay the passing of the Constitutional amendment Bill on the goods and service tax (GST). The reasons for opposition to the amendments to the Constitution proposed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee are genuine. However, though the states are concerned about their autonomy, they are are neither making serious efforts to enhance the revenue base through better administration nor are they showing any urgency to end the menace of octroi where there are leakages of revenue.
The delay in the GST rollout is annoying for any central government and such situations will continue to trouble us since it is unlikely that either the Congress or the BJP will have its government in all the states at any point of time in near future. The top leaders of the CPM, the BJP and the Congress must keep their political ambitions aside and discuss various alternatives and arrive at a consensus to ensure that the Constitutional amendment Bill is quickly introduced and passed. Opposition for the sake of opposition does not enhance the stature of any party. The cost of delay in the rollout can be very high for our economy’s fiscal health, but is easily avoidable if the top politicians behave like true statesmen.
Narendra M Apte, Pune
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