 "Puducherry Assembly ratifies GST Bill")
The bill, passed by Parliament, needs to be ratified by at least 15 state legislatures and according to reports, Odisha as the 16th state to ratify it on Thursday.
Members of AIADMK and AINRC have walked out opposing the Bill.
The House adopted a resolution tabled by Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy for ratification of the bill. He asserted that steps had been taken to ensure that the new tax regime did not affect the Union Territory.
As Narayanasamy tabled the resolution, AIADMK's legislature party leader A Anbalagan has raised apprehensions that the GST Act would be "injurious" to the Union Territory.
He also said the government should have given time to the members before bringing in the resolution and led the walkout by four members of AIADMK. All the eight members of opposition AINRC were also not present as they boycotted the Assembly proceedings in the last few days.
Earlier, Narayanasamy was quoted as saying that in the meeting of the Empowered Committee of all State Finance Ministers on GST, he made out a strong case to protect the interests of Puducherry and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely had assured to take care of it.
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He said Puducherry government would continue to have its right to levy service tax and also tax on liquor.
After the Chief Minister's reply, Speaker V Vaithilingam announced that the resolution was passed "unanimously".