More sparring on cards in Parl on GST Bill, agrarian crisis
27 April 2015 10:16 PM IST
The Narendra Modi-led NDA government has a packed agenda to push through this week when both Houses will function only for four days.
Apart from the GST Bill and financial business, reports of the Standing Committees of nine ministries, including Urban Development, Agriculture and Energy, are to be submitted in Parliament during this period. The GST Bill (The Constitution 122nd Amendment Bill, 2014) has been listed for further consideration and passage in Lok Sabha tomorrow.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had moved the Bill in the House last week explaining its objectives and the benefits that would flow from it by way of economic integration of the country.
However, opposition Congress has accused the government of “changing its stand” on the issue and has demanded that the Bill, which it claims has been “altered” from the version brought in by the previous UPA dispensation, should be sent to a Standing Committee.
Rajya Sabha will resume the second week by taking forward the discussion on agrarian crisis and suicides by farmers in the different parts of the country.
The issue would come up against the backdrop of the suicide by a farmer at a rally in the national capital that has fuelled a huge political controversy.
GST bill to be taken up by Lok Sabha today
The long-pending Bill on Goods and Services Tax (GST), moved in the Lok Sabha amid stiff resistance by several Opposition parties, would be taken up for consideration and passing tomorrow. The Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill 2014 was moved on Friday by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who had said it was a "win-win" measure for both the Centre and the states as he sought to allay the apprehensions of some state governments that they would lose revenue if GST was implemented. A Constitution amendment bill has to be passed by two- thirds majority of members present in the House and voting. Members of Congress, led by Sonia Gandhi, along with those of the Left, TMC and NCP staged a walk out after their plea for referring the Constitution Amendment Bill to the Standing Committee was not accepted. AIADMK and BJD also opposed its consideration but did not walk out. The Opposition members had alleged that the government was "bull-dozing" and bringing the bill in "hush hush" manner and wanted more time to study the "new" legislation.
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