Congress member Jairam Ramesh on Thursday did not press his amendments relating to Goods and Services Tax bills in Rajya Sabha, saying that he was following advice of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.1
Congress member T. Subbirami Reddy had also given notices for amendments on the bills but he was not present in the house.
Ramesh, while deciding not to press his amendments, said he was following advice of the former Prime Minister to maintain consensus.
As he sought to repeat his remarks on each amendment, Deputy Chairman P. J. Kurien said smilingly that his point had been taken and his explanation applied to all his amendments.
Ramesh said he was trying to highlight "the difference between former Prime Minister who is a statesman and present Prime Minister who is a politician".
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The amendments moved by Trinamool Congress MP Derek O' Brien and Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Tapan Sen were negatived after division.
The upper house later passed four bills related to the implementation of Goods and Services Tax and returned them to the Lok Sabha, which had passed them last month.
--IANS
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