7 May 2015: GST bill passed in Lok Sabha

Ø  A sessions court in Mumbai on Wednesday held Bollywood actor Salman Khan guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced him to five-year rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 25,000 in the 2002 hit-and-run case. The 49-year-old actor was convicted of ramming a roadside bakery with his Toyota Land Cruiser on September 28, 2002, killing one person and wounding four others sleeping on the pavement outside.

Ø  With 352 votes in favour, the Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill for introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) sailed through the Lok Sabha. The fierce opposition displayed by the Congress, the BJD and the CPI(M) on Tuesday did not translate into hurdles for the government. The Congress, in fact, walked out of the House, effectively helping the passage of the Bill while the BJD and the CPI(M) voted in favour. Only 37 votes were cast against the Bill — by the AIADMK members. The Bill proposes to empower both States and the Centre to levy the GST, which will subsume the services tax, excise duties, stamp duties, entry tax and central sales tax.

Ø  Bangladesh on Wednesday welcomed the passage of a Bill by India on Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) to settle the decades-old boundary dispute. The passage of the Bill was “most welcome,” said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam. He said that with the passage of the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, it had crossed a major hurdle on way to its implementation. Mr. Alam on Tuesday told journalists that Bangladesh was ready to discuss about the implementation of the LBA if New Delhi sought any help from Dhaka. The Bill will now be moved to the Lok Sabha to facilitate exchange of enclaves, transfer of adversely possessed areas and demarcation of un-demarcated border. Several diplomatic observers here felt that the Bill’s final approval after hurdles indicates the BJP government’s resolve to get it cleared in Parliament, bringing all parties on board. According to diplomatic sources here, if the Bill is passed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi might visit Bangladesh next month. Meanwhile, there were reports of celebrations from many of the 111 enclaves which India will transfer to Bangladesh once the LBA is implemented. Under the LBA, 51 Bangladeshi enclaves, all located in Cooch Behar of West Bengal, comprising 7,110 acres of land and a population of 14,215, will be transferred to India by Bangladesh. In respect of adversely possessed land, India will get 2,777.038 acres and transfer 2,267.682 acres to Bangladesh.

Ø  President Pranab Mukherjee will land in Moscow on Thursday for a visit that will be replete with symbolism. Mr. Mukherjee is one of an estimated 25 international heads of state and government expected to attend Russia’s victory day parade in the Red Square, commemorating 70 years of the defeat of Hitler’s army. Mr. Mukherjee’s visit is significant at a time nearly every U.S. ally and European country has decided to boycott the event, a stark contrast from the 50th and 60th commemoration, which was attended by U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush. Led by President Obama, the Western countries have decided to snub Vladimir Putin for what they see as Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, an event that spurred a series of international financial sanctions against Moscow. Led by President Obama, the Western countries have decided to snub Vladimir Putin for what they see as Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, an event that spurred a series of international financial sanctions against Moscow. Briefing the media ahead of the visit, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar, who will accompany the President, called the visit the mark of “a very special and privileged strategic partnership characterised by trust and people to people ties” that exists between India and Russia. The two countries will sign an agreement on cooperation in science and technology and eight MoUs between higher education institutions like the IITs, Institute of Engineering and Delhi University with Russian counterparts. Mr. Mukherjee will be a conferred an honorary doctorate by the Institute of diplomacy in Moscow.