New Delhi: Congress party on Wednesday made serious allegations over the central government's claim that it would earn Rs 6,000 crores from GST imposed on Covid vaccines, oxygen concentrators and Remdesivir.
While addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh demanded GST exemption on vaccines, oxygen concentrators and Remdesivir.
"The government will be collecting close to Rs 3,000 crores as GST on vaccines being procured by states and private hospitals. "If we include GST rates on Remdesivir and oxygen concentrators, the GST collection by the central government will be in excess of Rs 3,000 crores," he said.
He suggested that the same amount can be used to help to procure or set up 12 lakh oxygen concentrators, 1.2 lakh ventilators, 6 AIIMS like hospitals and 20 crores doses of vaccines.
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The Congress leader alleged, "All sane voices from around the country including various Chief Ministers have requested the government to reduce GST rates being levied on key medical items such as vaccines, oxygen concentrators, ventilators etc. The government on the contrary is eyeing an opportunity to make money in times of crisis. The Finance Minister has been making frail arguments justifying the current GST rates being levied."
Vallabh also demanded that the government must provide exemption not just on vaccines or life-saving medicines but also on the raw material that is being used for their manufacturing, to bring the prices down for the end consumers.
"If the Finance Minister is still not clear on this, we urge her to convene a GST council meeting and we can explain how this can be done. Just don’t argue for the sake of arguing," he added.
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