New Delhi, Dec 2 (UNI) The government on Monday outright denied the charge of being pro-rich and pro-corporate houses and maintained that its sincerity to help the poor and needy could be found in multiple initiatives taken to implement schemes like Ayushman Bharat, Ujjwala scheme and ensured bank accounts for the poor people.
Replying to the debate on Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also flayed Congress for signing the international pact at Bali in 2013 that had put India in the negotiation process for Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Alleging that having done so in 2013 during the erstwhile Congress-led UPA regime, she said the Congress party now had no rights to shed tears for farmers.
To issues raised by opposition members, she denied that the direct tax collection has decreased.
"....instead there was increase in direct tax collection by 5 per cent," Ms Sitharaman said.
The Finance Minister also charged the opposition parties with shedding crocodile tears vis-a-vis functioning of BSNL.
The draft law seeks to replace the ordinance, issued on September 20, and would slash corporate tax rate to 22 per cent without incentives and 15 per cent for new manufacturing entities.
All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) member Mahua Moitra charged that the Taxation Laws Bill will only help the 'profitable become more profitable' and nothing to revive a very large part of struggling economy.
Opposition Congress and other parties also opposed the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill and slammed the government for demonetisation and enforcing the GST.
Participating in the debate on the draft law, Gaurav Gogoi of Congress said due to continuous economic hardship largely due to faulty policies of the Modi government, the people have lost faith in the ruling dispensation.
He especially highlighted the manner in which demonetisation was brought in 2016 and immediately after that the government enforced the GST regulation.
Among others Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM), E T Basheer Ahmed (Indian Union of Muslim League), Md A M Arif (CPI-M) and N K Premachandran (RSP) also opposed the draft law and lashed out at the faulty economic policies and programmes.
BJP and AIADMK members, however, defended the government measures to revive the economy and to deal with global challenges.
UNI DEVN RSA 1835