The Assam Assembly unanimously passed the Constitution Amendment Bill on GST on Friday, becoming the first state to ratify the crucial tax reform legislation. “I declare the Bill, which was passed by both Houses of Parliament, to be ratified unanimously by Assam Assembly,” Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass announced in the House.

Though opposition Congress and AIUDF MLAs supported the Bill, they had earlier sought a discussion in the Assembly to evaluate GST’s impact on Assam and people. But they were turned down by the Speaker.

b’Finance Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma (left)with Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal | Source: PTI’

Following passage of the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Second Amendment) Bill, 2014, Dass and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who introduced it in the House, exchanged sweets. Sarma said Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal wanted that Assam becomes the first state to pass the amendment as this would send a positive signal to the industry.

“We have always lagged behind, but want to be the first in passing this Bill. This is a historic proposal. I thank the Speaker for allowing us to introduce it today after we informed him just last night,” said Sarma, who introduced the bill on behalf of the chief minister.

Sarma said after Brazil and Canada, India will be the third country in the world to collect GST by both centre and state through a new body – GST Council (GSTC).

b’Finance Minister Arun Jaitley after a meeting with FMs of all states in India to build consensus over the GST bill | Source: PTI’

The GST Bill, seen as single biggest tax reform in a long time, needs to be ratified by at least 15 state legislatures before the President can notify the GST Council which will decide the new tax rate and other issues. The government has set a deadline of April, 2017 for its rollout. Sarma said in the House that “of the central GST portion, 42 percent tax will be given back to the state again.”

The GST will also have a special concession option for NE and Himalayan states if they request reduction of taxes for any reason, he claimed. “Besides, we can also collect special tax during natural calamities like floods if we feel the need to generate more revenue. But everything will have to be approved by the GSTC,” he added. 

(Feature image source: PTI)