NEW DELHI, Aug 25: Racing against time on the GST bill, the Government today indicated plans for reconvening the Monsoon Session of Parliament and began consultations with political parties seeking their cooperation in passing key reform measures in the “national interest”.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs M Venkaiah Naidu met Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and said the Government was looking forward to passing the GST bill “at the earliest” and has an “open mind” on amendments to this key reform measure, which it plans to roll out from April next year.
Apart from the Goods and Service Tax (GST) Bill, the Government is also keen to pass the Land Acquisition Bill, 2015 and the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill.
On the vexed land bill, Naidu dropped broad indications that the Government may go in for a fourth-time promulgation of the ordinance to maintain its “continuity” as there is no possibility of passage of the bill to replace it before August 31 when the executive measure expires.
Though the dates are yet to be finalised, the Monsoon Session is expected to be reconvened some time in September, sources said.
Naidu, who maintained that he has already consulted leaders of a number of parties, also expressed willingness to meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi, if it was required to ensure a smooth running of Parliament.
Keen to ensure the passage of the GST bill, the Government had kept open the option of reconvening the session with the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs then deciding not to recommend immediate prorogation of the Houses after they were adjourned sine die on July 13.
“After discussions, the Government shall, if required call the second part of Monsoon Session to pass key legislations. I appeal to all political parties to keep in mind the national interest. Parliament should function. There is no substitute to healthy debate in democracy.
“The bills like GST, real estate regulation bill and land bill are very important. The delay in passage of the GST bill will hamper the aspirations of people of India and in particular the dreams of the youth, who are thirsty for jobs,” Naidu said at a press conference here.
GST, which has been called the biggest tax reform post-Independence by the Government, proposes to create a uniform tax rate across the country by subsuming excise, service tax and other local levies.
The Constitution Amendment Bill on GST is still awaiting the nod of Rajya Sabha, which could hardly transact any business in the recently concluded Monsoon Session due to uproar over Lalitgate and Vyapam issues.
Asked by when the Government is hopeful of passing the GST bill, Naidu said in jest, “At the earliest. We are saying soon, not monsoon.”
When told that opposition parties, including Congress, are seeking a number of amendments in the GST bill, Naidu said, “Amendments cannot be approved outside (Parliament). They have to be approved inside. The Government will be going to Parliament with an open mind. Once the session is called, we will be able to sort out these issues.”
The minister that he has initiated the consultation process.
“I hope keeping in mind the national interest, everybody will cooperate in passage of the bill. I have always been an optimist. In democracy it is try and try,” he said.
On the land ordinance, he said, “Let us see. The time is till August 31. Some decision will have to be taken in time. The problem in the land bill is that if we do not re-issue the ordinance, the 13 other Acts under which land will be acquired will lapse.”
Appealing to the opposition parties to help and cooperate in passage of the bills, Naidu said the Government is ready to discuss all issues and is committed to continuously reaching out to all parties to keep national interests above political interests.
Naidu’s fervent appeal to parties to help the Government pass the GST bill came in the backdrop of the rupee registering a sharp fall and the benchmark sensex witnessing the biggest single day decline yesterday.
Asking parties to think in national interest, he said, “This is even more important in the backdrop of the current financial situation across the globe.”
Citing BJP’s victory in Bengaluru civic body polls after similar results in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, Naidu said the result is a “lesson” for all.
“It’s message is clear that negative politics is not going to yield any benefit to anyone,” he said as he rued that Congress did not allow Parliament to function in the Monsoon Session although the Government “accommodated” their demand to send the GST bill to a select committee even after it was passed by Lok Sabha. (PTI)
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