FM indicating IT dept to issue notice to Congress: Sibal

Chidambaram however tried to justify Congress’s aggressive stand regarding this issue in the Parliament as he felt that ED was being used as a tool to fulfill some political motive.

He claimed that Rs 90 crore debt was assigned to a Section 25 company – a firm formed for promoting art, science, religion, charity or any other useful object – for Rs 50 lakh.

Seeking to change the Opposition discourse that the government has reached out to them only for the passage of GST, Modi linked the disruptions in Parliament with the loss of the poor in the country.

“Our Government has not issued any notice from the Enforcement Directorate”.

The Prime Minister also explained the approach of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” and said archaic laws were being weeded out.

As a result, senior Congress leaders went out of their way to underline that their protests were not about the National Herald case but about the different yardstick adopted by the government in dealing with BJP leaders and the opposition parties. If judges really want to see Sonia ji or Rahul ji, they can take the appointment and visit 10 Janpath, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said while checking Rahul Gandhi’s holiday calendar.

Rejecting the Congress charge of political vendetta being pursued by the government, he said the Government has “so far not taken any punitive action”.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said there is some “meeting ground” and issues raised by Congress on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill can be easily addressed provided there is willingness on part of the party. Encouraged by its performance in the Bihar elections, the Congress leadership was turning its attention to revamping the party organisation and preparing for the next round of assembly polls. Instead of spreading lies, they should fight the case legally. “Democracy can not function at the whims and fancies of anyone”. “If Congress wants to paralyze the nation, we won’t be intimidated”. Jaitley said: “If that (1 per cent tax) is a deal breaker with regard to manufacturing states, we thought lets talk with them”. Congress also accused high court of pursuing Legal Vendetta against Gandhis.

While Congress members did not allow the upper House to function over the issue, party lawmakers walked out in protest in the lower house.

Stating that “facts” clearly point to Congress leaders creating a “Chakravyuh” through a series of financial transactions, he said, “they have to find their own exit route out of the Chakravyuh”. “We have said you come to us on the suggestions put forth by us and implement them”, the he said. “We have no option but to raise our voice against political vendetta as the Parliament is a law making forum”. Is that a charge against the courts?”Jaitley asked”.