Bengal: Assembly begins discussing GST

Kolkata, Aug 7 (SURYAA): The West Bengal Assembly on Monday took up discussions on the West Bengal Goods and Services Tax (WBGST) bill, which would replace the ordinance passed earlier on the new tax system.

The Left Front members, who took part in the deliberations, opposed the bill.

The discussions would continue on Tuesday, when the bill would be put up for passing.

Ruling Trinamool Congress members backed the bill, but tore apart the Central government for hurrying through with the introduction of GST from July 1 without creating adequate infrastructure or making the public aware.

Trinamool lawmaker Shilbhadra Dutta said the new taxation system has hit the poor hard.

He said the measure could have been rolled out smoothly had the Narendra Modi government created sufficient infrastructure like internet connectivity.

Minister of State for Health Chandrima Bhattacharya criticised the central government for imposing 12 percent GST on sanitary napkins.