Congress to oppose GST if taxation introduced

New Delhi, Nov 14 : Congress on Monday said that it will oppose Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the upcoming winter session of Parliament if four slabs of taxation up to 28 per cent are introduced.

"For the country's development, we are in favour of GST. But the doubt Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders had, it is now proving to be true," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

"Congress had always maintained that the 18 per cent cap on GST should not be increased as it will lead to further inflation and people will suffer.

"It has come to light that (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji and (Finance Minister Arun) Jaitleyji are now talking about fixing the tax up to 27 per cent (or more) in four slabs. If they do it it, then we'll oppose it," he added.

Conceding to stakeholders' demands, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council arrived at a consensus of four bands of tax of between 5 per cent and 28 per cent, while agreeing to compensate states for losses on account of a shift to this new regime by way of cess.