State elections won't alter course of reforms: Sitharaman

The rout of BJP in Bihar elections will not derail the reform agenda at the Centre and the bill on Goods and Services Tax (GST) will get through Parliament soon, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said.
"State elections do happen but that does not alter the course of the central government or its mandate. We will keep going on reforms and are committed to fulfilling our mandate," Sitharaman said during a Policy India Summit in London via live video link from New Delhi yesterday.
"Ease of doing business related work of the government continues...There is a lot of appetite to invest in India and perceptions have changed under the new government by the steps we have taken.

"I am hopeful the GST bill will also be passed soon... ultimately it is in the national interest for it to get passed," she added.
GST is a major indirect tax reform that will bring down tax rates by removing different types of Central and state taxes and will also make movement of goods across India easier.
The government had planned to roll out GST from April 1, 2016. However, it looks difficult as the Constitution Amendment Bill is stuck in the Rajya Sabha where the ruling NDA does not have a majority.

The summit titled 'Assessing the Modi Impact: Will UK-India Relations Leapfrog?' was organised by UK-based policy platform India Inc. At UK law firm Allen & Overy offices in the City of London.

"What stood out for me throughout the duration of this visit was the natural affinity between our two countries, rooted in 1.5 million strong Indian diaspora in Britain that have contributed so richly to British life, success and identity," said Priti Patel, Britain's Indian-origin Minister of State for Employment.
"Our people-to-people ties, between British Indians and Indians have been strengthened as a result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UK. Ours is also a natural partnership for a mutually shared prosperity," she added.
Indian High Commissioner to the UK Ranjan Mathai highlighted some of the deals struck during the visit, marking a new era in the relationship.

"The civil nuclear agreement adds a new dimension to our engagement with the UK...India is on course to be a part of the global supply chain in the field of civil nuclear," he said.