NEW DELHI, AUGUST 12: ASSAM has become the first state in the country to pass Constitution Amendment Bill on Goods and Services Tax (GST). The state assembly unanimously passed the Bill on Friday following its passage by both Houses of Parliament.
“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.
“A historic resolution was passed in Assam Assembly as Assam became the 1st State to ratify the Constitutional Amendment Bill relating to GST,” Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal tweeted.
“I am sure Assam will benefit from the GST through higher economic growth & better revenue collection,” Sonowal said in another tweet.
Following ratification 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).
The Lok Sabha had unanimously cleared amendments made to Bill by Rajya Sabha on August 8.
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 per cent 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 flood if we feel the need to generate more revenue. But everything will have to be approved by the GSTC,” he added.
