Bill set for smooth passage in Legislature

Mumbai: The much touted Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill is now all set to be cleared on Monday in the state legislature. With all parties including the opposition – Congress and NCP, and sulking Shiv Sena on board, BJP is confident about smooth clearance of the GST bill.

Finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar will reply to the debate which took place on Sunday after which, the bill will be taken up for passage. Both houses of the legislature have already cleared on Saturday an amendment bill for compensation to all 27 municipalities. On Sunday, the assembly discussed the main GST bill. In their speeches, NCP’s Jayant Patil and Ajit

Pawar; Congress’ Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil and Prithviraj Chavan; Sena’s Sunil Prabhu and Chandradip Narke; as well as other members of the house supported the bill with various suggestions.

Mr Jayant Patil asked that a study committee be set up that would give suggestions about modifications, if necessary.

Mr Vikhe-Patil asked that the technology for automatic tax collection be reconfirmed. Mr Prabhu sounded a note of caution about the financial independence of municipal bodies. However, all of them along with other speakers were positive about the bill and extended their support to GST.

Mr Mungantiwar will reply to queries raised by opposition parties on Monday.