By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, January 8, 2016 : Union minister of state for finance Jayant Sinha on Friday said the non-passage of Goods and Sales Tax [GST] bill is a blow to the Indian democracy, economy and the overall development process, Union Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha on Friday said.

“We are very desirous to get the GST bill and we are doing everything and making all efforts for this,” Sinha said adding that the BJP-led NDA government has been making all efforts to ensure passage of the GST bill. Almost all political parties were in favour of the measure, all efforts went in vain due to Congress’”, he remarked.

Launching a tirade against the Congress, Sinha said; “Congress is conspiring not to let the GST Bill get passed in the Parliament and posing hurdles in the country’s development process by stalling the proceedings of Parliament during the session.”

He, however, expressed confidence that the NDA government would be able to get the bill passed in the Parliament in the ensuing session. The finance minister thanked the Biju Janata Dal [BJD] for supporting the Goods and Sales Tax (GST) Bill.

He was speaking to media persons after a meeting with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Secretariat here

The minister further said, Odisha could benefit a lot from Jan Dhan Yojana, Mudra Yojana and Jan Suraksha Yojana with opening of more banks and ATMs.

Sinha said, “There are at least five or six areas where Odisha and the Centre can work together more closely. Financial inclusion is the top priority for us and the series of progarmmes launched for this end will benefit the State a lot with opening of more bank branches and ATMs. We will work together in this direction and I look forward to collaborate with the State on the matter.”

Earlier in the day, Sinha also met MPs and bankers of the State. He directed the bankers to open branches in panchayats of Odisha where there is no presence of a bank at present.