GST is a testament of a great democracy: President Pranab Mukherjee

President Pranab Mukherjee, the final speaker before the rollout of the GST said it was culmination of a 14-year-old journey.

Here are the highlights of the speech

- A moment of great satisfaction for him personally.

- As a finance minister, I introduced constitutional amendment in Parliament

- Met several Chief Ministers and Finance Ministers and other officers during my tenure. Although there were great points of divergence and several contentious issues, most people were sincere in getting GST implemented.

- Was always confident that GST will be a reality.

- GST council is a joint forum of both centre and states.

- It is remarkable that no voting has been ever done in the GST council and they have arrived in so many decisions.

- The GST Council has pleasantly surprised all with showing unanimous decision making.

-  All stakeholders set aside narrow partisan believes and it is truly a testament of great maturity of Indian democracy.

- All major taxes will be subsumed by GST. GST will be truly a game changer.

- GST will be harboured by a modern IT structure.

- GSTN has inherent structures to encourage honest  transaction.

-  As GST is a disruptive change, there is bound to be some teething problems. Such problems shouldn't deter India's economic growth and says in the next few months GST Council and other stake holders have to ensure that all the problems are smoothened out.