New Delhi, Jul 30 (ANI): Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI Photo/SansadTV)
New Delhi [India], December 2 (ANI): Rajya Sabha on Tuesday returned the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (2nd Amendment) Bill, 2025, to Lok Sabha after a brief discussion. Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary had moved the bill in the Upper House for consideration and return. The Lok Sabha had passed it on Monday, the first day of the Winter Session, amid protests over opposition demands for a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
As the bill was taken up, opposition members staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha, reiterating their demand for an immediate discussion on SIR. Replying to the debate, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government remains committed to ease of doing business and reducing unnecessary disputes. She said the legislation would benefit both businesses and enterprises.
Sitharaman accused the opposition of shedding “crocodile tears” for Manipur, pointing out that they were not present during the debate. “Throughout 2024, we saw the Opposition shedding crocodile tears about Manipur for everything. They raised issues, voiced their concerns, and shed crocodile tears. I have seen it earlier as well—when we brought the Bill for Manipur’s budget, the Opposition did not participate in the debate,” she said. She added that the absence of opposition members during Tuesday’s discussion showed that their grievances were “just drama.”
Referring to the bill, she said it introduces an important amendment aimed at establishing a track-and-trace system. “Once such a system is in place, it will become easier to prevent leakages. The rules for creating vouchers at the time of supply will become simpler,” she said. The minister noted that the rules for generating vouchers at the time of supplying goods have been streamlined.
The amendment will replace the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, promulgated in October. It will also implement GST Council decisions, including plans to consolidate existing GST rates into two main slabs of 5 percent and 18 percent in Manipur. The 56th GST Council had approved rationalizing GST rates on about 375 items by merging the 5, 12, 18, and 28 percent slabs.
Sitharaman clarified that essential goods have seen their rates reduced from 12 percent to 5 percent, and that only sin or demerit goods will attract a 40 percent tax under the revised structure. She emphasized that no GST is levied on milk. Responding to a query, she said UHT milk, which was taxed earlier, is now exempt.
She added that the long-standing issue of the inverted duty structure has been largely resolved under recent GST reforms.
Participating in the debate, nominated Rajya Sabha member Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the government is working tirelessly to restore peace, rebuild confidence, and revive normal life in Manipur. He said the bill is a major step toward strengthening the state’s taxation system and improving revenue.
Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba of the BJP said the bill will ensure seamless continuity in tax administration and bring Manipur’s system in line with the Central GST Act. He said the legislation would serve as a pillar of administrative stability at a time when the state is recovering from internal disturbances. (ANI)
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