Maharashtra assembly passes budget for 2017-18

The Maharashtra assembly today passed the budget for 2017-18 after completing department-wise debate in absence of the Opposition members.
The appropriation bill and Maharashtra Tax Laws (levy, amendment and validation) Act, 2017 were passed in the lower house by a voice vote without debate.
The bills were introduced by Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.
The budget was presented on March 18 amid Opposition protests over farm loan waiver.
Nineteen Opposition legislators were suspended for creating ruckus during the budget presentation. Since then the opposition members have boycotted the legislature proceedings.
The amendment to tax laws pertain to announcements made in the budget like exempting sugarcane from purchase tax, increasing rate of tax on weekly lottery scheme from Rs 70,000 to Rs 1 lakh per draw and changes to value-added tax, among others.