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Delhi: BJP and AAP spar over GST amendment Bill

Atishi said that calling the Bill a mere formality is an “insult to the House”

CM Gupta blamed the AAP for not implementing any Union government schemes when it was in power in Delhi (File Photos)

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Leader of Opposition Atishi exchanged heated words over Delhi Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Assembly on Friday. Tabled on Thursday, the Bill was passed by the House later in the day.

While AAP’s Atishi demanded a discussion on the amendments, Speaker Vijender Gupta countered, saying that when her party was in power, it never allowed a discussion on it.

Former AAP finance minister and now BJP MLA, Kailash Gahlot, said, “I have been a finance minister in the previous (AAP) government and no such discussion was held. This is just a formality… When Atishi was the finance minister or the CM, no discussion was held on such bills either.”

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Atishi said that calling the Bill a mere formality is an “insult to the House”. Maintaining that traders are worried about GST, she said, “Traders are saying that while they are being burdened with arbitrary compliance, the government is providing tax exemptions to SEZs.”

In response, the CM highlighted that the amendments were passed during the GST council meeting held last year. “She (Atishi) is now questioning reforms that she neither debated nor helped shape. It is unfortunate that someone entrusted with Delhi’s finances remained absent during key deliberations.”

Gupta also blamed the AAP for not implementing any Union government schemes when it was in power in Delhi.

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