Himachal Pradesh and Chhatisgarh Assemblies ratify GST bill
22 August, New Delhi
Himachal Pradesh and Chhatisgarh Assemblies Monday ratified Goods and Services Tax bill.
The Himachal Pradesh assembly today unanimously ratified the constitution amendment bill on Goods and Services Tax (GST), passed by the Parliament this month. The bill was introduced by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on the first day of five-day monsoon session that began in Shimla today afternoon.
It was ratified by the assembly without any discussion and with thumping of benches, both by the treasury and the opposition BJP. The Himachal Pradesh became the fourth state after Assam, Bihar and Jharkhand to ratify the bill.
Later talking to AIR Correspondent Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that the GST bill would help the country especially states like Himachal Pradesh in particular. On the other hand opposition Leader Prem Kumar Dhumal express happiness over ratification and also thanked all the members to pass the amendment bill.
Chhattisgarh Vidhan sabha today unanimously ratified the Goods and Service Tax constitutional amendment Bill after a marathon debate during the one day special session.
Both ruling BJP and Congress members participated in the debate after which the house unanimously ratified the GST Bill by voice vote.
AIR correspondent reports that replying to the nearly seven hour debate in the Chhattisgarh assembly, chief minister Raman Singh said the GST would free the people from the complications of multiple level taxation and also bring in the concept of “ one nation, one tax structure” besides speeding the pace of development of economy.
During the debate, ruling party members claimed that GST regime would trigger economic development that could lead to increase in consumption and generate employment opportunities.On the other hand opposition Congress felt that the GST regime in the present form would adversely affect producer states.
Pradesh Congress President Bhupesh Baghel urged the state government to bring a white paper during assembly’s winter session on the possible impact and loss that could cause to Chhattisgarh with the implementation of GST.