Nirmala the FM shot back at the people finding fault with the centre on the GST on LIC. Why did not they raise it in the states and then raise the issue with the centre during he GST meeting she asked.
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, targetted by her critics over the 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax or GST on life and medical insurance premiums, retorted today that leaders having objection should first have consulted their state finance ministers who have a say in the GST Council. Amid growing dissidence over the GST on premiums, the government has repeatedly clarified that it was a decision of the GST Council — which has only brought more jibes from the Opposition.
Tax has been there on medical insurance even before GST was introduced, Ms Sitharaman said in the Lok Sabha today. “There was already a Service Tax on medical insurance, before the GST was introduced. This is not a new tax, it was already there in all the states,” she said.
“Those protesting here, did they discuss regarding the removal of this tax in their states? Did they write to the Finance Ministers of their respective states about it and asked them to raise it in the GST Council where states have 2/3rd part? No, but they are protesting here. This is their double standards, this is their drama,” she said.
