Suresh Prabhu seeks support of political parties to pass GST bill

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has sought support of all political parties to make India the single largest market in the world by implementing the Goods and Service Tax (GST) in the country.

Prabhu pitched for support from all political parties at a function held at Kabir Farm on the outskirts of the city last night. He said that Congress floor managers in the Rajya Sabha have made it clear to the government that it would not be possible for them to back the GST bill without referring it to a select committee.

"Co-operation of opposition parties in passing the GST bill will help in creating a single largest Indian market of 1.25 billion customers rivalling other markets of the world. Therefore, India should implement the GST bill," he said. He said Indian industry must prepare itself to take advantage from global mega-trade agreements.

The Railway Minister cited the example of China which joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and benefitted from it. "China is the single largest country which has benefited the most from the WTO. It has become the largest exporter in the world and as a consequence, the biggest producer," he said.