India, Sept. 6 -- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said that the Opposition parties were "misleading the country" on Goods and Services (GST) Tax.

Sitharaman said that the decision to keep four tax slabs was not taken by the BJP, but by the Empowered Committee of state finance ministers, PTI reported.

The GST council has approved a two-tier structure of 5 per cent and 18 per cent taxes, as well as a 40 per cent slab, which will come into effect from September 22, with the beginning of Navratri. The additional slab of 40 per cent was introduced for so-called sin goods and luxury items.

The GST rate for common goods stands at 5 per cent, and 18 per cent for the rest of the items.

The GST earlier had a four tier structure ...