Govt, Congress confrontation casts shadow on GST bill

“It is a legal matter and we will deal with legally”, Rahul Gandhi said.

“We want GST to pass, we are open to discussion (and) are looking at arriving at a consensus over the GST Bill”, a senior BJP leader, who didn’t want to be named, said.

Congress leaders alleged political vendetta as the case follows a criminal complaint lodged by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy for alleged cheating and misappropriation of funds in acquiring ownership of now-defunct daily National Herald.

Sibal referred to comments made by revenue ministers of the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Maharashtra and Haryana governments favouring cancellation of leases of properties of National Herald or its holding companies and asked, “Is this not political vendetta?”

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.

Sharma said that the party plans to counter the ruling BJP not only over the National Herald controversy, but also challenge it over what he called a prolonged misuse of state organs and selective targeting of its leaders.

Jaitley said the answer to the Congress leadership landing up in a “Chakravyuh” is to fight their battle legally and not disrupt Parliament.

Soon after the house assembled for the day, Congress members stormed the chairman’s podium raising the issue of summons to party president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case.

Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Naidu’s deputy, dared Rahul to give proof in Parliament on his allegations against the PMO. Your issue is of two individuals, where do we come in the issue of two individuals.

He said neither the government nor parliament could help the Congress in this matter.

Both Sonia and Rahul were present in the House and the Congress chief was seen offering some suggestions to Kharge when he was speaking.

Asked if the Congress would forge a grand alliance in Assam on the Bihar line, Gandhi said, “Tarun Gogoi and Anjan Dutta (APCC president) are in charge and they will decide”. “When there is open political vendetta not only here but across the country, what are we left to do”, Derek said.

Taking objection to a judicial verdict and stalling Parliament is the biggest threat to democracy and Congress should realize this.

Why is the Grand Old Party using court summons to stall reforms in Parliament?

Expressing “sorrow” over fresh parliament disruptions, Modi yesterday asserted that democracy can not function at the “whims and fancies” of anyone, in a veiled dig at continuing protests by the Congress.