Kerala backs out of GST commitment

Kolkata: Kerala has backed out of its commitment to support the Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill, Chairman of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers Amit Mitra said Tuesday.

"Finance Minister of Kerala Thomas Issac had supported the bill in the recent meeting held in the city, but now they said they were trying to arrive at a consensus," Mitra, who is also the West Bengals finance minister told the State Assembly.

Speaking to reporters outside the House, he said that looking for consensus meant things were in doldrums.

He alleged that there was a state of complete contradiction and confusion in the Left Front on the issue.

In the June 14 meeting of the empowered committee of the state finance ministers, all states except Tamil Nadu had agreed to support the GST Bill.

The BJP government was confident of clearing the bill in the Monsoon Session of Parliament and the draft GST bill had also been circulated for public comments. PTI BSM MD ABK