Even after tabling the draft of Goods and Services Tax Bill (GST) in the monsoon session of UP Assembly, the Samajwadi Party government did not bring a resolution for ratification of the Bill passed by the Parliament.
The Opposition and ruling party MlAs were amused at the government’s reluctance to pass the GST despite the SP having supported it in the Parliament.
BJP legislature party leader Suresh Khanna said that they were expecting that the GST Bill would be passed in the monsoon session which did not happen. “Only the government can explain as to why it has not brought a resolution to ratify the Constitutional Amendment Bill on GST,” he said.
Khanna said that there is no binding for UP to pass it now as already 16 states have ratified it. “It was mandatory for the Union Government to get ratification from 16 states which it already has,” he said.
Odhisa became the 16th state on Thursday when its Assembly ratified the GST Bill paving way for the introduction of the landmark tax reform.
However, officials said that there is no such hurry to ratify the Parliament Bill for GST as there is time till the Winter Session to approve it.
The draft copy of the Bill was given to legislators on August 24 but the government did not table the resolution. An official said, “It is the state government’s duty to bring the resolution. As there is possibility of another short session in November next, the GST resolution could be passed at that time,” he said.