NEW DELHI, Nov 29:
Amid din, Lok Sabha today passed, within minutes and without any discussion, a bill that seeks to tax money deposited in banks post demonetisation, marking the first legislative business during the two-week-old Winter Session which has been paralysed by the opposition.
The Taxation Laws (2nd Amendment) Bill, 2016, was passed by the Lower House after eight days of total washout. The Rajya Sabha, however, again failed to transact any business because of pandemonium of demonetisation.
Even as Opposition members indulged in fierce slogan shouting, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the bill will give means to the Government of India to run schemes like Garib Kalyan Kosh. “I urge the House to accept the amendments,” he said while moving the bill for consideration and passing.
He said the bill was brought after it came to the Government’s notice that some people were trying to illegally exchange the demonetised Rs 1000 and Rs 500 currency notes.
Jaitley said as per the amendment proposed, those caught illegally converting money will have to cough up 60 per cent tax plus penalties, which will come to 85 per cent.
Those who disclose black money to banks will have to pay 50 per cent tax, including surcharge and penalty. While they will get back 25 per cent immediately, the rest 25 per cent will be returned after 4 years.
Some amendments moved by opposition members were rejected as those required approval of the President which could not be obtained.
Two amendments by N K Premchandran (RSP) and B Mahtab (BJD) were allowed. While Premchandran refused to move the amendment as he was shouting slogans, Mahtab’s was negated by a voice vote.
Earlier, several opposition members said the bill could not be discussed before the debate on demonetisation as the measure was a follow up of the note ban decision.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said since the bill is of urgent public importance, it has to be passed immediately. Though she wanted a debate, she said “it is impossible” because of the behaviour of the opposition members.
Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and TMC’s Sudip Bandhopadhyay said the two — Adjournment Motion on demonetisation and the Income Tax Amendment Bill can be discussed together as the issues were similar.
Saugat Roy (TMC) said since Jaitley yesterday introduced the Bill “surreptiously” and “stealthily” amid din, the opposition did not get a chance to oppose its introduction as per rules.
B Mahtab said discussion on demonetisation was also necessary along with a debate on the bill as it had serious repercussions on the Income Tax laws. He said a way should be found.
The bill proposes to levy a total tax, penalty and surcharge of 50 per cent on the amount deposited post demonetisation while higher taxes and stiffer penalty of up to 85 per cent await those who don’t disclose but are caught.
The proposed law also provides for black money declarants to mandatorily deposit 25 per cent of the disclosed amount in anti-poverty scheme without interest and a four-year lock-in period.
Those who choose to declare their ill-gotten wealth stashed till now in banned Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes under the Pradhan Mantri Grabi Kalyan Yojana 2016, will have to pay a tax at the rate of 30 per cent of the undisclosed income, the new bill proposes.
Additionally, a 10 per cent penalty will be levied on the undisclosed income and surcharge called PMGK Cess at the rate of 33 per cent of tax (33 per cent of 30 per cent).
Further, the declarants have to deposit 25 per cent of the undisclosed income in a scheme to be notified by the Government in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
The money from the scheme would be used for projects in irrigation, housing, toilets, infrastructure, primary education, primary health and livelihood so that there is justice and equality, said the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill.
For those who continue to hold onto undisclosed cash and are caught, existing provisions of the Income Tax law will be amended to provide for a flat 60 per cent tax plus a surcharge of 25 per cent of tax (15 per cent), which will amount a levy of 75 per cent.
Besides, if the assessing officer decides he can charge a 10 per cent penalty in addition to the 75 per cent tax.
When Opposition members questioned bringing the bill for consideration and passage today at a short notice, Jaitley and Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said they were casting aspersions on the Chair.
Soon members rushed to the Well and kept shouting slogans till the bill was passed. Immediately thereafter, the House was adjourned for the day.
Earlier, a combative Opposition raised their pitch and protested in the Well as soon as the House met for the day at 11 am, prompting the Speaker to adjourn it for half an hour.
More than 30 Opposition members, including those from the Congress, TMC and the Left parties, were in the Well shouting slogans. Some of them even resorted to howling.
AIADMK members were seen standing at their seats.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge tried to raise some issue relating to the Bill to amend the Income Tax Act but Mahajan did not allow it.
Amid the din, one question and related supplementaries were taken up during the Question Hour.
As the ruckus continued, Mahajan adjourned the house till 11.30 am.
When the House reassembled, Opposition members again rushed to the Well and raised slogans demanding admission of an adjournment motion to discuss the demonetisation issue.
As the protesting members continued sloganeering, the Speaker asked them to return to their seats, but to no avail. She, however, took another question amid the noisy scenes.
She disapproved of the behaviour of the protesting members and adjourn the House till noon.
The Rajya Sabha also witnessed uproarious scenes continuously, leading to its repeated adjournments before the final one at just minutes after 2 pm.
The Opposition raised objections to treating of the Income Tax amendment bill, passed by the Lok Sabha, as a Money Bill as the Upper House will be forced to pass it.
Naresh Agarwal of Samajwadi Party raised a Point of Order, saying the Rajya Sabha had been undermined by the move.
He said the bill has not been put before the Rajya Sabha and the aim was to convert it into a Money Bill after which the Rajya Sabha will be forced to pass it.
Agarwal demanded that a committee be set up to look into issues affecting the prestige of the House.
This move was supported by the Congress leaders Rajiv Shukla and Jairam Ramesh and those from other parties who said it was a serious matter that many bills were being introduced as Money Bill by the government which undermined Rajya Sabha.
SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav said moves to bring down the prestige of the House should not be allowed.
Giving his ruling, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said the Constitution is very clear on what is a Money Bill and what is not. He also asked Agarwal to give a proper notice for setting up of a committee.
Kurien then took up discussion on the demonetisation issue, following which the Congress and BSP leader trooped into the Well of the House demanding the presence of the Prime Minister.
Following continued sloganeering, Kurien adjourned the House for the day.
Earlier, vociferous protests by Opposition benches demanding the presence of the Prime Minister during the debate on demonetisation began as the House met for the day.
Members of Congress, TMC and BSP trooped into the Well of the House raising slogans, forcing the Deputy Chairman to adjourn the proceedings till noon.
When the House reassembled and listed papers were laid, Mayawati (BSP) said the Government was adopting an adamant behaviour and the Prime Minister should come to the House and listen to the discussion on hardships caused due to ban on old 500 and 1000 rupee notes.
As Congress, SP, TMC and other opposition members joined the protests, Kurien said the discussion on the issue can be resumed immediately as the Government too was ready.
Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the debate, which was initiated on November 16, should be resumed and the Prime Minister will come and intervene.
He questioned Opposition’s intentions by not debating and repeatedly stalling House.
At this point, Opposition members trooped into the Well raising slogans demanding the Prime Minister’s presence.
Treasury benches countered them with pro-Modi slogans. (PTI)
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