Despite an expected rocky Winter Session, govt confident of passing GST Bills

Even if Opposition disrupts, it could suggest to Speaker of Lok Sabha that the two Bills be designated 'Money Bills'

With elections to five states, including key state of Uttar Pradesh, on the anvil and several raging controversies from an alleged fake encounter in Madhya Pradesh, and the suicide of an ex-serviceman, the forthcoming Winter Session of Parliament is set to be rocky. But government sources were on Thgursday confident of ensuring the passage of supporting Goods and Services Tax (GST) related Bills.

Enthused by the consensus in reaching four-tiered GST tax structure, particularly the unanimity achieved with Congress ruled stated, senior government sources were confident that the Central GST (CGST) and Integrated GST (IGST) Bills will be passed by both the Houses.

Even if the Opposition were to disrupt proceedings, the government has an ace up its sleeve. It could suggest to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha that the two Bills be designated 'Money Bills'. The government has a comfortable majority in the Lok Sabha but is in a minority in the Rajya Sabha.

The passage of the two Bills during the winter session and of the State GST Bill by state assemblies should help meet the GST rollout date of 1 April, 2017, government sources said. The government had advanced the winter session by a week so that the April 1 rollout deadline could be met. It also plans to present the budget in the first week of February instead of February end.

The government anticipates the Opposition to raise issues ranging from 'surgical strikes', the alleged fake encounter of under trials in Madhya Pradesh, the suicide of an ex-serviceman in protest of government not implementing 'One Rank, One Pension' scheme and farmer suicides.

Government sources indicated that the government was willing to have discussions on all issues. The Bharatiya Janata Party is confident that any controversy around issues of 'nationalism' could only help its election campaign in Uttar Pradesh and other states.

The monsoon session of Parliament, despite heated debates on several issues and disruption of proceedings, was productive with both Houses passing nearly a dozen Bills and also managing to hold debates and discussions on burning issues. Government sources believe the same spirit of accommodation will be shown by both sides.

Key Bills to be taken up during the winter session:

Central GST Bill; Integrated GST Bill; Amendment to Right to Education Act to repeal the 'no detention policy'; Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill; Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill; Surrogacy (regulation) Bill; Maternity benefit amendment Bill and Mental health care Bill.