Assam becomes 11th Indian state to adopt GST bill

Both ruling and opposition legislators of the Assam Assembly unanimously passed the bill on the last day of the three-day long special session.

After placing the bill before the assembly, Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said  that, Assam likes consumer states will benefit under the GST.

"After adopting the GST, we will gain. The Goods and Services Tax is a tax reformation measures. For which Assam stood to benefit," Sarma said.

The Assam finance minister said that, already 160 countries across the world have adopted the GST and India become 161th country by adopting it.

"The next GST council meeting will be held in Srinagar on May 18-19 and we will place our agenda in the meeting. The GST regime will ensure enforcement. Industry will continue to get the benefits," Sarma said.

The Assam finance minister said that, the industrial policy will remain same.

On the other hand, former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi of opposition Congress said that, we support the bill and like to be assured that consumers interest to be protected.

The GST is likely to be introduced in the country from July 1 next.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)