Deputy SM Sukhbir Singh Badal told media that the decision on GST will be taken in the assembly session next month. Three states – Jharkhand, Bihar and Assam-have already ratified the bill. “Government will take a decision in the assembly session in September,” Sukhbir said.
He said the government has taken an initiative of providing power for 24 hours to the industrial sector at a subsidised rates as earlier the industrialists had to run their mills for 16-18 hours on generators.
He ensured that the glory days of industry in Mandi Gobindgarh town will be restored. “Many prominent national and international industrialists are keen in investing in Punjab,” he said. He also attacked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), saying it is a ‘party of looters’ and cautioned the people not to come in its ‘false promises.’ He said AAP is a coterie of ‘disgruntled Naxlites’, who want to ‘loot and vitiate’ the atmosphere in the state. And more drama is happening in the case of drugs in Punjab, this case will define the new future for Punjab.
Madhya Pradesh became the seventh state to ratify the GST Amendment Bill after Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. A special one-day sitting of the state legislative assembly was convened forthe process. State’s Law Minister Rampal Singh moved the GST Constitution Amendment Bill in the house for the approval.
The Maharashtra assembly is also set to ratify the bill in a day-long session on August 29. The GST Bill, seen as single biggest tax reform in a long time, needs to be ratified by at least 15 state legislatures before the President can notify the GST Council which will decide the new tax rate and other issues.