Venkaiah hopeful of GST Bill passage in the Budget session

Expressing hope that the Goods and Services Tax bill will be passed in the next half of the Budget session, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday said the tax regime will push country’s economy by 1.5 to 2 per cent points, according to reports in the media.

Naidu said the Government had tried to pass the Bill some months ago, but “some friends”, raised some or other issues.

Stating that he met Congress President Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the passage of the Bill, Naidu said if it was passed, India’s GDP will go up by 1.5 to 2 percent points.

“We can debate, discuss and decide, but do not disrupt. As Govt we propose, as opposition you oppose, but together we can dispose,” Naidu said.

He also assured the industrialists that all support and help would be provided to develop Coimbatore as a Smart City and issues like mass rapid transport system and overnight train to Bengaluru would be taken up with the ministries concerned.