LDF govt expresses discontent over GST proposals   

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 21 (PTI) With the CPI(M)-led LDFgovernment in Kerala yet to ratify the GST constitutionalamendment bill, state Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac today protested against the procedures adopted for the conduct ofthe GST council meeting to be held on September 22 and 23. In a Facebook post, he said Kerala has strong objectionsto many proposals of the Centre on GST and sought to know ifit would try for a consensus and consider different opinions. He also took exception to the voting procedure for theselection of Vice-chairman of the council. Attacking the NDA government, Issac said that with moststates approving the GST constitutional amendment bill, "BJPhas betrayed its true character". "The agenda note for the meeting to be held on September22 and 23 was received last evening. The first item was on theprocedures of the GST council meeting," he said. Isaac said seven days prior notice has to be given forthe meeting, but in an emergency, two days notice was enough. However it was not possible to depute anybody to attendthe meeting in place of the Finance Minister, he said. "The Chairman (Union Minister) will decide the sittingposition of each minister. The note also stated attendance hasto be registered before the meeting", Issac said. "The State Finance Ministers council has been functioningfor the past two decades. There was no system of attendanceand no dispute over seats," Isaac said. He said central government officers failed to note theyare dealing with state ministers and not their subordinates. Similarly, there was no dispute over chairmanship in theState Finance Ministers Empowered Committee for GST. "But here the Vice-Chairman of the Council is beingselected through election," he said. The minister said the agenda note also gives in detailthe procedure to be followed for voting and "there is not asingle sentence of consensus in it." "There will be majority in the Council if BJP ruledstates and Union government join together and the message thenote gives is that with the majority, they can decide onanything. It is condemnable," Issac said. Issac also said that this issue would be taken up by thestate at the Council meeting. The state assembly is slated to begin its sitting onSeptember 26 and is likely to take up the GST constitutionalamendment bill.  On August 8, Parliament had passed the GST ConstitutionBill, to replace different state and local taxes with a singleunified value added tax system. The bill has to be ratified by at least 16 of the 29state assemblies. PTI JRK APRBSA