GST a revolutionary step and game changer: Naqvi

Telangana proactive in GST roll-out, says Union Minister

Understanding taxation: Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi having a word with Commissioner Commercial Taxes Principal Secretary Somesh Kumar (right) and Goods and Services Tax and Customs Chief Commissioner Bankey Behari Agrawal (left) in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Terming the Goods and Services Tax (GST) a revolutionary step taken in the interests of the common people and small traders, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) and Parliament Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said it will be a game changer for the Indian economy.

He said that the implementation of GST was the biggest economic reform post-Independence. The GST would change the direction of the Indian economy, he said, addressing a GST awareness programme organised by the GST and Customs and attended by professionals and practitioners here on Sunday.

Tracing the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi was making people look up to the largest democracy of the world, Mr. Naqvi said that the GST was also one of the best examples of India’s federal structure and the combined legacy of Indians. He also explained about how the demonetisation was rolled-out, and were the surgical strikes that dealt a telling blow to terrorist forces and about which nobody knew.

Though the concept of the GST began 17 years ago, it was a reality now, with 17 different taxes and 23 cases were fitted into a single tax. The announcement came on the midnight of June 30 and message was clear and powerful for the world to hear, see and feel the transparency that it would usher in.

Appreciating Telangana for being the first to express its support to the GST, he said that the pro-activeness of the youngest State of India did not end there. “The way the State administration and senior officials of the Central GST and Customs working here and the manner in which awareness about the GST was taken up on campaign mode is commendable. I shall surely take this message from Telangana when I visit other States,” Mr. Naqvi said, to applause.

Among those who addressed the gathering included Chief Commissioner GST & Customs, Hyderabad Zone Bankey Behari Agrawal, Principal Secretary Commercial Tax & Excise Somesh Kumar, Federation of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry President Gowra Srinivas, Institute of Company Secretaries of India Council Member V. Ahlada Rao.

While CGST Commissioner M. Srinivas welcomed the gathering earlier, Additional Commissioner Manjula D. Hosmani gave a presentation on the preparedness and initiatives taken by the Centre for GST’s smooth roll-out.