GST Bill Passed Unanimously: How Government Managed That

I would like to add that GST will also be the best example of cooperative federalism. Together we will take India to new heights of progress

- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 3, 2016

• A solution within the framework of the GST is workable. The idea is to not stave off the municipal bodies if there's unable to manage funds.

• When we said the Centre will pay compensation for states' loss of revenue, they were not ready to trust the government.
• This is how the word in the bill that Centre 'may' compensate became 'shall' and full compensation was agreed for 5 years.

• The GST council is all of us sitting here.
• Parliament will make a law based on the recommendations of the council. Our law will be based on the council which has 2/3rd majority of states. We will act on the advice of the council.
  

• The 18 per cent cap figure for GST came from the report of your chief economic advisor.
• Currently the break-up of tax results in a 26-28% tax (if you all everything). Comparing that to the developed countries who have GST are at 16.8%, the developing economies with GST are at less than 15%.
  
• When you (government) bring the GST bills (State, Centre and Interstate), please specify the tax rate under law.
• The bill should be a Finance Bill and discussed in the Rajya Sabha before it becomes a law.
• You must also talk about the commodities excluded from the bill.
  

• It is the right of the people of the country to know what the history to the case is.
• At that time (10 years ago) there were protests. everyone knows that those protests were purely political... Gujarat had protested a lot.
• Narendra Modi himself protested against it. at that time it was said that the GST is not in favour of India, it will weaken the country.
• We always wanted the GST to be implemented. So to say we oppose it is unfair.
  We're glad you have finally come around to believe in GST.
  

• If  Mumbai is made to beg, then the country will become a beggar too.
• The OCTROI check posts in Mumbai also gives it an extra layer of security. Please consider it while deciding to scrap it after GST.
  

• The constitutional amendment will be followed by the Central GST Bill, State GST Bill and the Integrated GST Bill. We don't know the content of those bill.
• So a discussion on all the bills must take place in Rajya Sabha when the GST is introduced as a Finance Bill.

• The GST bill simplify and synchronise indirect tax regime. From 5-7 tax laws to 2 will simplify lives of people
• It will reduce the multiplicity of taxes and reduce the hidden cost in commerce
• This is the first time we will be talking as one nation on taxes

• If the indirect tax rate is higher than 18 per cent, it will affect inflation and the lives of people.
• Revenue sharing model between the states and Centre must be spelled out.
• Like Mr Chidambaram said, we support the idea and the bill subjective to clarification by the Finance Minister
  

• Earlier the bill only spoke of goods, now services are crucial which will change and improve further.
• I urge all sections of the house to support the bill and urge the government to take us along as partners and discuss in this house before you take the final steps.

• We are supporting the bill to back 90 per cent of the people of this nation which is hoping the bill will help the economy.

• The Centre should not be given a veto power and the redressal mechanism for states should be stronger.

Are we going to reduce the states to come to Centre with begging bowls to ask for money? CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury

• We are a council of states here. We need to protect the right of state government.
• If there's no clarify on how Centre and states share the revenue, then the bill has a serious lacuna.
  

• We want to work with you and support you, don't do anything that sidelines us.

• The bill will strengthen the economy and reduce corruption.
  

• Let us know whether the politics on the GST will continue till November or will it become a cricket match with multiple innings.
• We need to pass implement the GST Bill on April 1, 2017 and this is why I am being very specific.

• Before we get to the details of the bill, let me talk of the ping pong the two parties (BJP and Congress) have played for over a decade.
• People ask me if my party supports the bill, perhaps the question should be posed to the government.

This constitutional amendment bill is not constitutional. It violates the fiscal autonomy of the states: AIADMK's A Navneethakrishnan

• It violates the federal structure of the constitution and hence democracy.
  
• How can a bill be passed without knowing the tax rate? Without defining it, this bill is a waste paper.
• Tamil Nadu will incur losses of over 9,200 crores due to the GST which has to be then compensated by the central government.
  

• We agree with P Chidambaram that when the bill, accepted by states, comes back to the parliament, must not be brought in as a money bill. It has to be discussed in both the houses before it is implemented.

• Our bill has tried to simplify the tax that a common man has to pay. Through GST, we will bring together all the various taxes to be paid and the subsequent returns to be filed.
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• India's strength as one of the biggest markets will converge into one marketplace from 29.
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• Our PM believes that the states must work together for India's development. Through GST we will be able to portray India as one strong financial market.

• When we say cap the tax rate, we say that it should not be changed by the whim of the executive.
• We argue that the government must cap the rate basis its own report, which should only be changed with the approval of the parliament and not executive.
• In the name of the people, the standard rate of GST must not be more than 18 per cent.
• It will be non-inflationary and will be accepted by the people.
  

• In high income countries, the average indirect tax paid is 16.4 per cent, in emerging economies like India, it's 14.1 per cent.
• The collection of direct taxes should be far over the collection through indirect taxes.

• There could not be perfect bill. Congress has never been opposed to the idea of GST. A debate on the matter has been going on for several years.
• There is not much scope of making the bill any better as we are in the final stage of discussion, but if Mr Jaitley will look carefully, he will see the areas of clumsy drafting in the bill.
• The government should revise the GST amendment to strengthen the dispute resolution mechanism.