As the country's Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime completes one year of its implementation, a panel of experts and ministers discussed the successes and failures of the tax and its effect on the various states.

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Here are the key comments made by the panellists:

Thomas Isaac, finance minister, Kerala: The experience of GST implementation in the first year has been rather disappointing, said Isaac.

The minister also pushed for an immediate rollback on excise duty levied on petroleum products, and added that a simple solution to tackle the issue of price rise would be to bring petroleum products under the ambit of the GST.

Mahender Singh, Member- GST, CBIC: The first year of GST implementation has been a roller coaster ride, said Singh, and added that the implementation of the e-way bill had cut down on time consumed by transporters, and reduced fuel consumption by truckers.

Saying that every state has a different problem with regard to GST implementation, he added that the five year period is a reasonable period for compensation with regards to GST.

The CBIC was constantly listening to stakeholders for improving GST implementation, he further added.

Manpreet Singh Badal, finance minister, Punjab: The minister said he would rate the implementation of the GST 8 out of 10 and added that small businesses had suffered due to GST implementation.

Adding that nothing less than perfection in GST implementation is acceptable, he said the spirit of co-operative federalism should be taken forward.

Mauvin Godingo, GST Council Member, Goa: The member said the council had been open to public opinion in lowering GST rates, and that the motive was to give relief to the common trader.

Terming the GST a ‘gareebo ke sochne ke baad wala tax,’ or a tax that has been imposed after making considerations for the poor, he said the needs of the common man have always been considered while implementing GST.

He further added that the GST as a reform had united political parties and citizens and that the tax was a very bold step taken by the Modi Government.

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First Published:Jun 28, 2018 7:44 PM IST