Cong protest stalls debate on GST Bill in RS

As soon as the House met after two adjournments and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley moved the Constitution amendment bill for Goods and Services Tax (GST) for discussion, Congress members stormed the Well shouting a resounding ‘No’.

As Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien asked members that since the Bill was moved on Tuesday, it was time for discussion now, the Congress members shouted slogans and encircled the Well, leading to adjournment of the House for the day.

Protesting Congress members had on Tuesday too blocked a debate on the bill. The Monsoon Session ends on Thursday.

Earlier, Congress forced two adjournments of the Upper House in the pre-lunch session as its members and those of CPI(M) and JD(U) strongly objected to some business houses asking Parliament to function and sought a response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Lalit Modi and Vyapam issues.

Before adjourning the House for the day, Kurien told agitating Congress members “this is your bill. You shouting members, GST is your bill. It is a baby of Congress party. If you want, you can vote against the bill ... no one is preventing you (from voting)”, adding that the bill was introduced by the earlier UPA government.

Disapproving the conduct of the Congress members stalling a debate on the bill, Kurien <g data-gr-id="72">said</g> “this is undemocratic. This is an affront on the Parliamentary democracy. I don’t approve of this. I totally disapprove with this.”

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also asked the Chair to remove the protesting members from the Well. He even sought their suspension for stalling the proceedings.

“This is hooliganism by Congress members. This is anarchy to stall the progress and growth of the country. ... They are against country’s progress and want to stall it. In <g data-gr-id="80">democracy</g>, such hooliganism will not be allowed. This is a conspiracy against country’s development. They should be removed from the Well and suspended,” he said.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav and CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury attacked the government for “using” the media and business leaders to attack the opposition for the disruptions in Parliament.  As government said it was ready for a debate on any issue and accused the opposition of running away from it, the opposition sought a discussion under a rule that entails voting, on the lines of Lok Sabha.

Soon after the House assembled for the day, Opposition and treasury benches exchanged sharp barbs after Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said the charge that BJP government was “a government for money bags has been vindicated” by the “attack on Parliament by capitalists”.

“Today that charge is vindicated,” he said adding that Parliament represents 125 crore Indians. The JD(U) leader was referring to an online signature campaign in which over 15,000 people, including the country’s top industrialists, have urged lawmakers to allow Parliament to function, debate and legislate. Finance Minister and Leader of the House Arun Jaitley retorted, telling Yadav “does the common man want Parliament not to function? ... You are guilty of stalling democracy.” This comment triggered Congress members to rush to the Well raising slogans against the Government, forcing the first adjournment till noon.

When the House reassembled for Question Hour, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said Yadav had raised an important issue involving the prestige of the House, as some industrialists were trying to “teach us how to run Parliament.”

“There have been comments made against MPs <g data-gr-id="77">everyday</g>. It is a question of Parliament’s prestige. The ruling party is using media and business houses to attack the Congress,” he said, charging the government with “terrorising” channels who do not toe their line, but “this cannot terrorise MPs.” 

Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said questions were being raised on the functioning of the House and business houses are telling MPs how to run Parliament.

“They cannot interfere with our work. We also want the House to run,” he said, demanding that there be a discussion on the IPL row along with voting, as was being done in Lok Sabha. “Why can’t we have it in this House also and restore the functioning of this House,” he said.