<p>New Delhi [India], July 28 (ANI): Senior Congress leader and former finance minister P. Chidambaram on Saturday criticised the Centre for failing to effectively implement the Goods and Service Tax (GST) in India in 2017.</p><p>Taking to Twitter, Chidambaram was of the view that the 28 per cent tax slab under the new tax regime has only added the Excise, VAT, and CST.</p><p>"The 28% GST rate was the contribution of a lazy BJP government that simply added the Excise, VAT, and CST," the former finance minister wrote.</p><p>Further taking a dig at the Narendra Modi-led government, Chidambaram said that the Central government deliberately did not take a note of the report filed by the Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) and also dismissed Opposition's plea to cap GST rate at 18 per cent.</p><p>"BJP government brushed aside the report of the CEA and summarily dismissed our plea to cap GST rate at 18%. Now it claims wisdom in phasing our the 28% rate!," added Chidambaram.</p><p>The former finance minister also said that scores of small and medium-sized enterprises have been shattered because of the high interest rates under GST.</p><p>"Following demonetisation, the faulty implementation of GST destroyed thousands of SMEs and millions of jobs. Ask any trader or businessperson and you will know the truth. The 28% rate (and the cesses) was only one aspect of the faulty implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST). There are other distortions that have given GST a bad name," said the Congress leader.</p><p>The GST was rolled out in July last year after months of deliberation.</p><p>Launched at midnight on June 30 by Prime Minister Modi and then President Pranab Mukherjee, the taxation scheme aimed at bringing all taxes into a single window along the lines of the 'One Nation - One Tax - One Market goal. (ANI)</p><br/><center><em><p>This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI</p></em></center>
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