BJP's 'obstructionist policies' did not allow GST Bill to pass during UPA-II: Congress

The Congress party on Wednesday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party for not letting the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime pass the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill in 2011 through its 'obstructionist policies'.

"When we were about to get the GST Bill passed, according to the schedule of the UPA, it should have come into operation from April 1, 2010. Because of the obstructionist policy of the BJP and their allies, it did not go through," Congress leader Veerappa Moily said.

"We introduced the amendment in the Parliament in 2011, but that was obstructed and it did not come into operation. Today, the Bill has again come up for consideration and we have been telling them that it is not the same Bill as 2011. There are lot of changes and the taxation system itself is a complicated one. There are a lot of complexities and conflicts which could be between the states," he added.

Earlier in the day, the Lok Sabha passed the GST Bill, with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley assuring the states that the Centre would compensate any tax losses suffered by them over the next five years.

However, even as the voting for the bill was on, the Congress party staged a walkout. Ultimately, the bill received the two-third majority needed for it to pass.