Raj favours collection of GST by local bodies

Thane, Aug 29 (PTI) MNS chief Raj Thackeray has said GSTshould be collected by local self-government bodies instead ofthe Centre. If the Centre fails to give the state its share in theGST then the local self bodies will collapse, he said. Raj was speaking to newsmen last evening here where hecame to thank and appreciate the ‘Govindas’ who had gone aheadwith the Dahi Handi celebrations as usual despite the SC curb. Stating GST was a good step forward in tax reforms, hesaid local self bodies should collect it and give the stateand the Centre their due share. "But the Centre by collecting the same wants to havecontrol over the states," he alleged. The two Houses of the Maharashtra legislature are set tomeet for a special session today and pass a one-lineresolution with regard to the ratification of the ConstitutionAmendment Bill on Goods and Service Tax (GST). Legislature sources said barring the reservations ofSena, all other political parties were on board for unanimousratification of the Bill. Sena has reservations in particular about thecompensation to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)which would be losing Rs 7,500-crore octroi annually, largelyfrom the the imported crude oil, after GST rolls out. Passed by Parliament recently, the GST bill needs to beratified by at least 15 state legislatures before thePresident can notify the GST Council which will decide the newtax rate and other issues. The government has set April 1, 2017 as target date forrolling out GST, considered as the biggest tax reform in thecountry since Independence. PTI COR DKRCJRYS