Govt may push for vote on GST Bill

Last days of the ongoing Monsoon session have turned into a nerve- wracking battle between the treasury Benches and the principal Opposition Congress. Spurred by criticism of the Congress strategy to stall the functioning of both the Houses, first by the Samajwadi Party and on Tuesday by the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the government may push for a vote on the GST Bill on Wednesday. 

According to government sources, the Bill would be passed and it would provide an opportunity to the treasury Benches to further isolate the principal Opposition and strengthen the charge that they were anti-development. “We have the option of going for <g data-gr-id="68">special</g> session for the passage of the <g data-gr-id="69">Bill,</g> if it doesn’t happen during the current session,” said a BJP leader. 

In what could be music to the ears of ruling NDA, the Opposition BJD on Tuesday attacked the Congress in Parliament over disruptions, saying “manifestation of fascism” was being witnessed inside the House. BJD members voiced displeasure both in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha over disruptions, becoming the second Opposition party after Samajwadi Party to target Congress for stalling Parliament.

Meanwhile, the government on Tuesday moved the goods and services tax (GST) bill in Rajya Sabha for consideration, but a debate on it was blocked by a vociferous Congress which raised procedural issues.   

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who moved the much-delayed bill, slammed the Congress, saying the party was raising various issues just to stall the country’s economic growth.

Amid slogan-shouting by Congress members, he said the Congress was using Lalit Modi issue against External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj as a “pretext” to stall the important tax legislation. Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said since it was a Constitutional Amendment Bill, the House had to be in order for its passage and adjourned the proceedings till Wednesday. “This being a Constitution Amendment Bill, I cannot take up the Bill in pandemonium,” said Kurien, as he adjourned the House.

Jaitley said <g data-gr-id="36">disruptionist</g> politics were dangerous both for the Congress and the country and he appealed to the principal Opposition party to “see reason and come on the path of cooperation particularly in relation to policies they themselves had at one stage proclaimed”.

“We on behalf of the government, along with the support of all parties who are supporting the GST, are determined to pursue this and will take all correct measures politically and constitutionally to achieve this goal,” he said, indicating that the government was preparing to push the major tax <g data-gr-id="53">reforms Bill</g> before the session ends on Thursday.