Handset makers blame 'erroneous' data for GST rate hike

New Delhi: Mobile handset manufacturers have claimed that the recent 50% hike in GST rate was ‘erroneously’ based on the premise that pre-GST excise duty rate was 12.5%, when it was just 2%. They sought an urgent roll back of the increase, saying it would “devastate” the sector already reeling from the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak, lead to huge job losses and a strong return of the grey market.…