Will GST make fake bills history in India?

​New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill will go a long way in helping states, support small entrepreneurs and also curb the menace of corruption.

Intervening during a debate on the GST bill in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister asserted that the new tax law will be an important step towards getting the country rid of "tax terrorism" and also make "consumers the king".

"In our country there is a trend of kaccha bill-pucca bill (fake bills and original bills)," Prime Minister said, and asserted that the proposed uniform tax law will be technology based.

Henceforth business houses and entrepreneurs "will be forced" to insist only on pucca bill (original) bill which will "end corruption in the long run".

He described GST as a "Great Step by Team India, Great Step towards Transformation and Great Step towards Transparency".

Trying to answer various issues raised by members, including M. Veerappa Moily and Mallikarjun Kharge (both Congress), the Prime Minister said that the new law will benefit states, especially those which are considered backward.

"It will address the problem of imbalanced development," he maintained.

The Rajya Sabha had on August 3 unanimously passed the Constitution amendment bill to pave the way for introduction of a pan-India Goods and Services Tax regime.

Prime Minister's absence in the Rajya Sabha during last week's debate fetched him strong criticism from opposition parties, including Congress.

For greater part of the day Modi on Monday sat through during the debate and was also present in the house after making his speech in the evening.

Explaining on how GST will contribute to end corruption, Modi said the new mechanism will also end leakage or pilferage in the entire supply chain.

Prime Minister said while the country often hears people and public leaders talk about corruption, there is also a need to ensure that the system is corrected.