A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised more relief in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) by November 10, the day GST Council meets in Guwahati, Congress sources said their State Finance Ministers will make three key demands at the meeting.
The Congress will press to simplify the process of filing GST returns, with no penalty for initial delays, seek more relief for businesses whose annual turnover does not exceed ₹1.5 crore and lower the tax rates on items of mass consumption.
“There are several items of mass consumption that are still taxed at 28 per cent. We will insist that it be lowered so that the GST does not become inflationary,” a Congress leader said.
Though the Model Code of Conduct of the Election Commission prevent the Centre and the States where elections are being held from announcing any policy decision that influences voters, most argue that the GST Council announcements are never State-specific and hence will not violate the code.
