GST Bill taken up in Lok Sabha for ratification, PM likely to speak
Reports said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to speak on the Bill, described as India's biggest tax reform.
The Bill that amends the constitution to enable the GST reform for a one nation one tax regime, was passed by the Rajya Sabha with a unanimous majority last week with the AIADMK staging a walkout.
The Bill, passed in the Lok Sabha in May 2015, was sent back to the lower house to ratify the amendments cleared in the Rajya Sabha.
After the Upper House, where the opposition is in the majority, passed the Bill, it is now expected that it will see the passage of legislation.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, "Centre has addressed concerns of all states on GST and rates of taxation will be decided by GST Council."
Pledging support to the Bill, Congress, the main opposition party, has issued a whip to all its members. However, as former Finance Minister P Chidambaram had demanded in the Rajya Sabha last week, the Congress is likely to ask for an assurance from the Government that it will not introduce the two upcoming central GST Bills as money bills.
Even after approval by the Lok Sabha, the Bill requires the assent of at least 15 state Governments and the President for legislation.
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