Odisha assembly takes up GST Bill at special session

The Odisha assembly on Thursday commenced a two-day special session to deliberate and pass the state Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill and amendment to Value Added Tax (VAT).

Odisha Finance Minister Shashi Bhusan Behera moved the two bills in the house. However, the bills were referred to the business advisory committee after Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra sought time to present views, citing that the bills were circulated among the legislators only on Wednesday.

"It took 11 years to pass the GST Bill in Parliament. However, we did not take 11 hours to analyse the bill. Each of the word needs to be interpreted. The bill was circulated yesterday (Wednesday) night only and you expect a discussion," said Mishra.

He urged Speaker Pradip Amat to refer the bills to the Business Advisory Committee. The house was adjourned till 3 p.m. as the committee met to discuss the GST Bill.

Notably, a workshop on the GST was organised on Wednesday for the legislators, where some of them said they did not understand some of the clauses of the proposed legislation.

--IANS

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