Bihar passes Finance Bill amid Opp walkout

The Bihar Assembly today passed the Finance Bill after the Opposition walked out charging the NDA government with favouring the business community and neglecting the poor.

The Bihar Assembly today passed the Finance Bill after the Opposition walked out charging the NDA government with favouring the business community and neglecting the poor.

As soon as deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who also holds the Finance portfolio, moved the proposal for passage of the Finance Bill, main Opposition RJD’s chief whip Ramchandra Purve opposed its provisions and demanded it be circulated for public opinion before being passed.

RJD’s Ramdas Rai said it should be referred to the select committee of the House for opinion. Soon the entire Opposition, including members of RJD, Congress, LJP, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), Samajwadi Party and BSP were on their feet demanding withdrawal of the Finance Bill.

They later walked out of the House after which the Bill was passed by voice vote. in his speech prior to the passage of the Bill, Modi said the government had brought about changes in its tax structure in line with the provisions in neighbouring West Bengal and Jharkhand. He said as a result of steep hike in taxes on commercial vehicles under Bihar Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Act, 2001, by the erstwhile RJD regime, transport business in the state was in a shambles. Several transport operators shifted to neighbouring states, he said, adding the Finance Bill proposed to lower taxes on commercial vehicles to give a new lease of life to transport industry.