Adi Godrej pitches for low rates under GST

Hyderabad, Aug 29 (PTI) Veteran industrialist AdiGodrej today cautioned against high tax rates under the GST,as he praised the Narendra Modi government for beingreform-oriented and bringing down corruption and cronycapitalism. In an interview to PTI, the Chairman of Godrej Groupmade a strong pitch for lower rates of taxes. "Now, we are going to finalise the GST rates of taxes.And some people are talking about higher rates that will bevery much against the interests of the economy. So, reasonableand low rates will be the best for the economy," he said. On his assessment of the performance of the27-month-old Modi government, Godrej, a former President ofConfederation of Indian Industry, said the government has donequite well. "They are clearly free enterprise-oriented, veryclearly they are reform-oriented and, at last, the GSTConstitutional Amendment Bill passed that is to mind is thesingle most important reform after 1991. So, I think they havedone a good job. And they have improved ease of doingbusiness, and we should continue strongly on that path", hesaid. Asked if there are areas where the Modi government has"fallen short", he said: "That’s not the issue, nothing isperfect. Because of political reasons, somethings may not bedone. But Now, lot of the things have been done. I think theyhave taken good steps. Overall, I compliment them." "Corruption has come down quite a lot, especially atthe higher level, and I think crony capitalism has come down alot. And that’s very good. I think passing of theconstitutional amendment bill for GST is a very goodachievement," Godrej said in response to a query. He disagreed with some commentators who claimed thecountry’s high GDP growth is job-less one causing concern. "I don’t agree with that at all. Lots of jobs arebeing created. Perhaps not enough for every body who isentering the workforce, and for that we need more skilling andtraining. Today, the problem is not of people who are skilledand trained not getting jobs. Problem of people don’t have theskills for the jobs that are available", Godrej said. Asked if there are areas of concern which could comein the way of the country’s development and progress, he said,"there are, but these are generally some social issues, somepoints but I don’t think we should pay too much attention tothat. So long as we have good economic policies, freeenterprise and ease of doing business, India will progressdramatically". On whether issues like social conflict, Dalit upsurgeand unrest in Kashmir have the potential to derail thecountry’s growth story, Godrej said India being a large anddiverse country some issues would always come up but one mustapproach them sensibly and solve them. PTI RS DK ABKBAS