GST Bill: Govt moves to call for special session, but Congress non-committal

The Opposition said it would first read the fine print

Amid moves to call a special session of Parliament for passage of Goods and Services Tax Bill, Government today reached out to Congress but the opposition party remained non-committal on its support saying it would first read the fine print.

"They (government) want to call a special session and they are consulting all parties it seems. Unless we see what are the amended clauses or what is the agreement between the proposal of the standing committee and government, unless we see the final bill, we cannot comment on that," Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said.

He was speaking after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu met Kharge to discuss the issue. The senior Congress leader said that one has to see which provisions have been accepted or deleted in the bill.

"They should also send a copy of the bill. What are the new provisions added, which provisions were deleted, what are the proposals accepted by them which were suggested by Congress or other parties, reasonable objections. That should be seen," he said.

He asserted that the GST bill has to be passed by both the houses of Parliament "separately" and not by calling just a joint session.

"The GST bill should be passed in both the houses separately. It cannot be called a joint session or so. I do not think they will call session. For that also 14 days notice is required," he said.

Naidu, who maintained that he has already consulted leaders of a number of parties on the issue, also expressed willingness to meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi, if required to ensure a smooth running of Parliament.

"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.

Though the dates are yet to be finalised, the Monsoon Session is expected to be reconvened some time in September, sources said.

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 deciding not to recommend immediate prorogation of the Houses after they were adjourned sine die on July 13.

Appealing to the opposition parties to help and cooperate in passage of these 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.

Congress - which had initiated the GST Bill in 2006 - is strongly opposed to it in the present form and is insisting on three key amendments. The monsoon session has not been prorogued which means that the government can convene it again.

The Bill has been stuck in a political logjam in the Rajya Sabha where the ruling NDA does not have a majority.