GST passage crucial to monsoon session success

Govt confident of AIADMK help on GST

The government is increasingly confident of the support of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa-led All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on the goods and services tax (GST) Constitution amendment, and the quid pro quo is likely to be in the shape of central assistance to the state government to help out with Tamil Nadu’s mounting power dues.

The government is sure of the arithmetic in favour of the key reform legislation, hopeful that the AIADMK would not align forces with the Congress to oppose the GST Bill during the monsoon session of Parliament. According to government’s assessment, the AIADMK is likely to stage a walkout at the time of voting on the Bill. Jayalalithaa had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 14 in New Delhi.

The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs on Wednesday finalised the dates for the monsoon session of Parliament. It will be held from July 18 to August 12, and will have a total of 20 sittings over 26 days.

The passage of the GST will constitute the key element of government’s proposed legislative agenda for the session. Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the government will try and build consensus on the GST Bill. At a time when observers have commented at the government’s cupboard on proposed legislations being empty, Naidu said ministers have been asked to be prepared with Bills that concern their ministries by July 3. This, he said, will ensure that 20 to 25 Bills could be taken up for introduction, consideration and passing during the session.

Currently, there are 11 Bills pending in Lok Sabha and 45 in Rajya Sabha, including the GST Bill.

Three Bills are to be taken up in the coming Monsoon session to replace three ordinances. Two of the ordinances related to the exemption this year from the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) - Indian Medical Council (Amendment) and Dentists (Amendment) Ordinances. The third Bill will relate to the Enemy Properties (Amendment and Validation) Ordinance.

Key Bills pending in the Lok Sabha are amendments to the following laws - Factories, Electricity, Merchant Shipping, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Consumer Protection, Benami Transactions (Prohibition), Indian Trust , Companies (Amendment) and the Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws and Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

Bills pending in the Rajya Sabha, include the Indian Medical Council, Whistle Blowers Protection, Compensatory Afforestation Fund and Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill,2013.