India’s opposition blocks tax reform legislation

This one-per cent additional levy, however, is rendered unnecessary after the Cabinet’s approval last month of the Rajya Sabha Select Committee’s recommendation requiring the Centre to commit itself to compensating all losses to the States owing to the transition to the GST for five years, said a source.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had on Monday attacked the Congress’ top leadership for its “stubbornness” and alleged that they wanted India’s growth story to suffer by obstructing the GST bill’s passage. In such a situation, it will not be easy for the ruling party to get the bill passed as consideration and passage of the Constitution Amendment requires house to be in order first and then only the Chair can call for division (where members cast their vote electronically).

Rajya Sabha adjourned for third time till 2 PM amid continued uproar by Congress members.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy had assailed Congress for opposing the Bill, which he said was its own brain child.

Jaitley said on Tuesday that the tax reform would turn India into a single market with a uniform rate of taxation for both goods and services.

Now, it’s unlikely that the Bill may be taken up on Wednesday, the last day of the monsoon session.

“I am not pessimistic about it, I am optimistic, I think we can implement GST by beginning of next fiscal…”

It also wants changes to the bill, which it says has been diluted to win support from states.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday appealed to all the political parties to extend their support in passing the GST Bill.

With just four days of the monsoon session of Parliament left, the Congress has made it clear that the protests inside the House will continue if the government did not accept their demand of removing the minsters and chief ministers involved in Lalit Modi issue and Vyapam scam.