CHENNAI: Finance Minister D Jayakumar on Wednesday told the Assembly that the grievances of traders and others who feel affected by GST would be resolved in due course and the State government would take up in the monthly meeting of GST Council to be held on the first Saturday of every month. As such, the traders need not worry.
Responding to a remark by the Leader of Opposition, MK Stalin referring to a popular message doing the rounds in social media criticising GST, the minister recalled that because of the firm stand taken by the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on GST, many positive decisions that would benefit all States in India were taken.
He said the GST rates were decided by GST council comprising representatives of all States. As many as 169 goods had been exempted from taxation following representations. Jayalalithaa was firm on safeguarding the fiscal autonomy and State autonomy.
“When the amendment regarding the GST was introduced, the clauses then were detrimental to the State autonomy and fiscal autonomy of the States and hence she opposed many clauses. Jayalalithaa demanded that petroleum products and alcohol for human consumption should be exempted under GST and it was agreed by the Centre. By this, the two commodities have been exempted under GST.