Country deserves better performance from lawmakers: Assocham

NEW DELHI: Expressing disappointment over non-passage of the GST bill in the Winter Session of Parliament, Assocham today said the country deserves better performance from Parliament lawmakers.

"We have missed yet another opportunity for passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill for introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is the most important tax reform ever proposed in the country.

"It is rather unfortunate that an important reform which would have raised India's GDP by 1.5 per cent at a time when growth is needed the most, has fallen to expediency of some political parties. This country deserves better performance from Parliament and lawmakers," Assocham President Sunil Kanoria said.

The government was hoping to rollout the GST from April 1, but the Constitution Amendment Bill is stuck in Rajya Sabha as it could not be taken up for discussion in the Winter Session of Parliament which concluded today.

"India is being recognised as a bright spot in an otherwise hazy global outlook, but we cannot take this for granted as global headwinds are quite strong and can sway us anytime if we do not get our act together," Kanoria said.

Meanwhile, an online petition moved by industry body CII for passage of the GST bill said that "the ongoing delay in implementation of GST is a matter of great concern".