FM Nirmala Sitharaman’s Commanding Performance In Rajya Sabha On GST Issue

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave a forceful reply to opposition members in the Rajya Sabha who blamed the centre for imposing an 18% GST on health insurance premiums. In her reply to the debate on the Finance Bill, the finance minister said tax was being levied on insurance premiums before GST and that opposition members should first speak to the finance ministers of states governed by their own parties before putting the entire onus of the tax on the Narendra Modi government in the centre. She said GST rates were decided by the centre and states in unison in meetings of the GST Council which like the Parliament was a constitutional body. Referring to the letter written by Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari on the issue, the FM said the letter had been leaked by a member of the delegation without the minister’s permission.