With indications of a stormy Winter Session of Parliament, the CPI(M) today said the onus of transacting business in the House was entirely on the government, which has "not done its homework" on the GST bill.
"Government has not done its homework on GST bill. It has not convened an all-party meeting, which it should have to discuss the same. Government will be solely responsible if the bill is not cleared in the House as it has not done its homework," CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury told PTI.
Observing that the BJP was not pushing the GST bill aggressively probably because it had been opposing it for the past six years, Yechury said "Narendra Modi himself, as Chief Minister of Gujarat, had opposed it. This is the main reason. So, the onus of responsibility of this bill lies squarely with this government and not with the Opposition."
The issues of 'intolerance', price rise, agrarian crisis and the rights of Dalits would also be the focus of the Left parties in the upcoming session which gets underway on Thursday.
The Left leader said he had given a notice for a discussion on the "growing intolerance" in the country, which has been approved by Rajya Sabha Chairman "as first item for discussion. So, we will raise voices against it," he said.
Yechury said six Left parties, including CPI(M), would also hold protests, both inside and outside the House, on the "hate offensive" by BJP and Sangh Parivar outfits.
With the first two days of the session dedicated to debate on B R Ambedkar and his contributions, he said this sitting "must be used" to pass legislations protecting interests of Dalits instead of holding "mere discussions" on the issues grappling the backward communities.
"This session should not be used only for discussion, but passing legislations. The SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) Act for Dalits and expanding reservation (for them) in private sector. We will mount pressure on the government to bring new laws in this direction," Yechury said.
Expressing concern over escalating prices of essential commodities, he accused the government of imposing economic burdens on the "already suffering" people by levying Swachh Bharat cess.
"We will raise issues relating economic burden on people, price rise and Swachch Bharat cess. Economic injustice is being inflicted on people. Agrarian crisis is deepening. Peasant suicides are continuing. Employment is falling. We will take up these issues, along with opening of FDI by the Modi government," he said.
