GST rates should be minimum for greater tax compliance: Delhi FM

Manish Sisodia, Finance Minister, Delhi spoke to CNBC-TV18’s Timsy Jaipuria on the side-lines of an event organised by industry body ASSOCHAM.In the interview Sisodia reiterated that Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates should be kept at a minimum level for greater tax compliance. He also questioned government's stand on real estate and raised concerns on how can a sector like real estate be left out of GST’s purview.Earlier in the day while speaking to PTI he said, "I fought tooth and nail for inclusion of land and real estate within the ambit of GST but somehow there couldn't be an absolute consensus on the issue at number of GST Council Meetings of all the States Finance Ministers because of obvious reasons.""Consumer durables such as TV, Mobiles, electric appliances and host of similar such articles should not be taxed luxuriously. That is our view and we will continue to articulate them whenever necessary in the interest of Aam Aadmi though the GST tax rates have yet to be finalized," he added.The Minister assured industry chambers that he would take up the aforesaid issues in the forthcoming GST Council meeting as keeping land and real estate being outside purview of GST and that higher taxation slab for consumer durables would kill its basic purpose, a PHD Chamber release said.With inputs from PTI.