Himachal Pradesh assembly ratifies GST Bill

Shimla, Aug 22: The Himachal Pradesh assembly on Monday unimously ratified the Constitution Amendment Bill on Goods and Services Tax (GST) that was passed by Parliament this month. The Bill was introduced by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on the first day of five-day monsoon session. It was passed by the assembly in less than five minutes without discussion and with thumping of benches, both by the treasury and the opposition Bharatiya Jata Party (BJP). The ruling Congress had already announced its support for the legislation. Just before the Constitutiol Amendment Bill was introduced, the BJP staged a walkout from the assembly over the purported remarks of the Chief Minister against them. They were demanding bringing of a privilege motion against the remarks that appeared in a section of the media. As Virbhadra Singh, who holds the fince portfolio, introduced the GST Bill for ratification, the BJP members returned to the house. Himachal Pradesh has become the fourth after Assam, Bihar and Jharkhand to ratify the Bill. Virbhadra Singh told reporters that the GST Bill was earlier brought by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre. “The present BJP government brought the same GST Bill which was earlier brought by our government,” he said.  (IANS)