BENGALURU: AICC president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday promised to bring a “compassionate” Goods and Services Tax (GST) when his party comes to power at the Centre in 2019. The Congress chief was addressing entrepreneurs in Bengaluru as part of his marathon ‘Samvada’ ahead of the state assembly polls.
“Modi’s policies are designed just for 10-20 businessmen. Small and medium industries are being dealt a blow. We will simplify GST so that it doesn’t punish you,” Rahul Gandhi said in response to a question raised by Janardhan, vice-president, Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FKCCI). Entrepreneurs raised concerns over multiple slabs under GST, the interest of 3.5% for small-scale industries and exemption policy under the current tax regime.
Close to 200 small and medium scale entrepreneurs participated in the meeting with the Congress chief. Businessmen chosen by the party professional wing were allowed to interact over industry concerns.
“The current GST regime is a nightmare for businessmen. When someone like Rahul Gandhi assures to simplify it, we have hope. We hope our concerns are addressed in the Congress manifesto for Karnataka,” said a Santosh, a small-scale entrepreneur. Apart from requests to bring fuel under the GST ambit and exempt labour charges, entrepreneurs appealed to the Congress to introduce reservation for industry personnel in MP and MLC seats.