KM Mani says GST beneficial to states, centre; hopeful of meeting April 2016 deadline

NEW DELHI: “The Goods and Services Tax will be mutually beneficial for both the states and the Centre. I am hopeful of all stake-holders arriving at an amicable negotiated decision on the implementation of the GST regime within the 1, April, 2016 deadline”, said Kerala’s Finance Minsiter KM Mani, the newly appointed chairman of the empowered committee of state finance ministers on GST.

Talking to ET, Mani said, “I take my new assignment with a great sense of responsibility and I, as the chairman of the empowered committee, will always work by the principle of consensus-building”.

When pointed out how political considerations had always thrown a spanner in the works in moving towards GST as was demonstrated in the attitude of some BJP led state governments during the UPA rule, Mani said, “I would rather look forward with hope. I am aware that most of the states are aware of the benefits they will get from GST. Of course, there are also different perspective as far as the producing and non-producing states are concerned. But all stakeholders are also aware that the GST will help the states that have, otherwise, no powers to levy taxes on services and the Centre which has no powers to levy sales taxes. That is why I say, GST would be of mutual benefits for both the states and the Centre.

On some of the tasks he foresees as chairman of the empowered committee, Mani said, “as the chairman of the empowered committee, I am no one to make any unilateral decisions. With my past experience in the committee as in understanding the concerns of many states, I think many of the differences could be hammered out by enabling wider and constructive discussions on the draft GST bill among all stake holders”.