Opposing parties in defamation case, Kejriwal and Jaitley break bread at GST dinner session

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal attended a dinner session on Thursday with the Goods and Services Tax Council (GST), headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

The two leaders, who are opposing parties in a defamation case, were seen sitting beside one another during the session, as per images released by the official twitter handle of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Also present at the event were Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Food & supply and Environment Minister Imran Hussain, and other dignitaries from different states, along with members of the GST Council.

On a related note, Jaitley had filed a civil defamation suit against Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders, including Ashutosh, Kumar Vishwas, Sanjay Singh, Raghav Chaddha and Deepak Bajpai, after they accused him of indulging in corruption during his tenure as the president of Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) from 2000 to 2013.

In his complaint, Jaitley accused Kejriwal and others of defaming and sought Rs 10 crore as damages.

Modi-Jaitley deserve praise for reduction in GST rates: BJP

The BJP hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over the reduction in GST rates on a number of products, and said the new tax regime has emerged as people-friendly in a short span of time.

In a statement, party spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said the government has given a huge encouragement to an informal sector, which showcases India's traditions, by exempting 29 handicraft items from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.

These items have been put on zero per cent tax slab.
"In a short period, the epoch-making GST reform has emerged as a people-friendly tax regime and that is a stellar achievement," he said, adding that Modi and Jaitley deserve kudos for further reducing GST rates on a wide array of products and 53 services.

The all-powerful GST Council cut tax rates on 29 goods, including second-hand vehicles, confectionery and bio- diesel.
Also, tax rates on 54 categories of services, including certain job works, tailoring services and admission to theme parks, have been lowered.