FM Nirmala Sitharaman Blunts Opposition Attack On GST, Highlights Their Hypocrisy

Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman was at her sarcastic best as she questioned opposition's demand for withdrawal of the 18% GST on health insurance premiums. Calling the demand "thoroughly amazing", she asked the opposition to bring the proposal to the GST Council through their states' finance ministers. The finance minister slammed the opposition for politicising the issue in Parliament and asked if the members had written to the finance ministers of opposition-ruled states to withdraw the tax. She also said that amendments pertaining to GST have to be made in the GST Council, which is a constitutional body, and added that these amendments don't come through Parliament. The opposition has vehemently raised the issue of 18% GST on medical insurance premiums, blaming the union budget for the tax. In an important revelation, the finance minister said that the matter was discussed thrice in the GST Council meeting. The council discussed the matter at its 31st meeting, 37th meeting, and the 47th meeting.