Gandhinagar: Gujarat assembly in its one-day session today passed Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill unopposed in absence of three MLAs Keshaji Chauhan, Parshottam Solanki and former Chief Minister Anandiben Patel. A 232 page bill is second longest after 392-page Gujarat Panchayat Adhiniyam bill moved during late Chimanbhai Patel government.

Opposition Congress party extended its support to the bill.Leader of opposition Shankersinh Vaghela said GST bill was moved by then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in Rajya Sabha. He said Congress believes nation is more important than party. Congress MLA Shaktisinh Gohil speaking on the bill said, GST is indirect mode bill and therefore GST tax should not be too high. He said Gujarat will suffer Rs 8,000 crore loss due to GST. He expressed concern that things that are used by common men such as sope, toothpaste, mobile etc will get costlier due to GST.

The Parliament had on April 6 passed four legislations to pave the way for nationwide roll-out of GST from July 1. The Assembly took up Gujarat GST Bill, Gujarat Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill and Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Bill for discussion and voting since it’s necessary that at least 50 per cent of states should pass the GST Bill.

Nitin Patel:

– GST council has been given even higher status than Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

– There were many provisions in GST bill which were causing damage to Gujarat’s interests. Today the situation has improved. The central government has made necessary changes. Today the entire nation has unanimously accepted this law.

– The demand was made that central government should forgo 50% amount of cess on petroleum products such as petrol, crude oil, gas etc. Special demands were also made for manufacturing states. All demands are accepted and therefore not just Gujarat but all states have happily welcomed GST.

– GST law has provision of filing police case for those who generate fake bills, fake forms, fake receipts and do tax evasion of over Rs 50 lakh.

Saurabh Patel:

– In year 2000, Atal Bihari Vajpayee led government had formed empowered group of ministers for indirect tax reform which was the beginning of GST process. The way UPA government went ahead with GST, it created mistrust between central and state governments. UPA government promised reduction of GST rates. When states followed this decision and reduced the tax, the UPA government didn’t pay compensation. This created atmosphere of mistrust between state and centre. States wanted petroleum, alcohol products out of GST regime as they bring good revenue of tax. States also wanted inclusion of cotton, coal and such specified goods, but UPA led central government was not listening. In 2011 constitutional amendment was attempted for inclusion of such products in GST but state’s opinions were not accommodated while doing so. Therefore even Congress ruled states in empowered group of ministers opposed it.

NDA government showed large heart. Jaitley accepted that CST loss should be compensated. He made provision of budget and even disbursed it. The present government has added package of compensation to give protection against reduction in revenue. NDA government has kept petroleum products, alcohol products and some specified goods outside the purview of GST and agreed to the states. This has created an atmosphere of trust among states.

Infrastructure for implementation from 1st July has ben created . There has been 87% migration in Gujarat for GST. VAT is departing, GST is arriving. GST will increase GDP.

DeshGujarat