Odisha ratifies GST Constitution Amendment Bill

The Odisha Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Constitutional Amendment Bill.

"Odisha legislative assembly has unanimously ratified Constitution (122nd Amendment) (GST) Bill, 2014," Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told the reporters here.

"Centre of Indian trade Unions to continue countrywide strike on September 2 against the 'anti-worker and anti-people policies' of the government. I will request the Centre to consider the state's concern for imposition of green tax on polluting goods and services in addition to the GST and take appropriate action for CST compensation to the state up to 2016-17," he added.

15 states have already ratified the constitutional amendment bill. With Odisha passing the bill in its legislature, this has now touched the magic number of 16, which is required to turn the bill into a law.

The Constitution 122nd Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed by the Parliament on August 8, marking a historic step for tax reforms which Prime Minister Modi said was 'crucial' for ending tax Terrorism besides reducing corruption and black money while making the consumer 'king'.

The GST Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha earlier last month, with 443 members present in the House voting in favour of the legislation.

The government has set a deadline of April 2017 for the GST rollout.