BSP to support GST Bill

The session witnessed the lowest number of bills being passed since the 2010 Winter Session.

“We strongly believe in GST”.

“Our position on the GST is simple”.

On a day that the Lok Sabha discussed the Commitment to the Constitution – the Rajya Sabha was adjourned over the death of a sitting member – Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati told reporters, “The government is assuring us that the GST Bill will strengthen the economy”. We are not stalling Parliament just for the sake of stalling Parliament.

“India can’t have a GST with a flawed make-up, for once the Constitution is amended, it will take decades before one can correct the flaw”, said Jaitley.

Noting that Congress has “very genuine concerns” on the measure, he insisted that the party wanted a pro-industry, pro-trade and pro-consumer GST which is “neither one sided, nor lop sided and help all three sectors”.

But the government needs to listen, he added.

Sharma further said that now those people get importance in the organisation who are new entrants and are expert in serving leaders interests along with their own interests. “Microphones of our MPs (Members or Parliament) are switched off in the House”. It is now pending in the Rajya Sabha where the government is in minority.

Some states ruled by regional parties, including Bihar where Modi’s BJP lost badly in an election this month, have assured their support for the bill but analysts doubt that tempers can cool quickly enough for progress to be made.

“What is happening in the country is distrubing and the Prime Minister is silent”.

The Finance Ministry also plans to call a meeting of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers soon to start a discussion on the revenue neutral rate.

Mr Naidu said such incidents lie in the domain of state governments who are vested with the responsibility of maintaining law and order. Since the monsoon session was a near washout, with opposition parties closing ranks and keeping Parliament deadlocked, the smooth functioning of this session is crucial.

The Congress leaders listed the issues that they said the main opposition party would not compromise on – the 1% tax for manufacturers, the constitutional cap of 18 percent for GST rate and an independent dispute resolution mechanism for GST.

On the issue, Office of RG tweeted,”Congress Party is for GST.But we have a few concerns on the current Bill”.

“The government has condemned those incidents as they go against the traditional and highly cherished values of tolerance”, he said.

Giving details of the Government Business for the Winter session, Naidu said that in consultation with various ministries, 38 items have been identified of which 22 items have been prioritised.

“We are open-minded on the issue”, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said on the sidelines of a press briefing.