INDIA bloc parties protested in Parliament premises on Tuesday demanding the Centre to roll back the Goods and Services Tax imposed on health and life insurance premiums. The union government has imposed an 18 per cent GST on insurance premiums.
MPs from opposition parties including Congress, Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and NCP-Sharad Pawar faction protested on Parliament steps with placards and demanded the government to reverse the GST. The opposition MPs called it “tax terrorism” and raised slogans against the Centre.
Congress MP Sashi Tharoor said it was unfair to impose 18 pc GST on something very essential as life insurance. “Government has announced a policy of life insurance and health insurance for all by 2047 and now they are taxing in such a way that there is no possibility to ever do that,” ANI quoted him as saying.
Jharkhand Mukta Morcha MP Mahua Maji said it 18 pc GST was unjust and middle class will be severely affected by the decision. She demanded that GST on the health sector should be reduced.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the issue. Union minister Nitin Gadkari also urged Sitharaman to consider withdrawing the GST which “amounted to taxing uncertainties of life and restricting the industry's growth”, PTI reported.
