Modi meets Manmohan, Sonia Gandhi

Jaitley added that the leaders also discussed the smooth functioning of Parliament in the Winter Session during the meeting.

“It has been agreed that the Congress will hold a discussions and deliberations within the party on the issue, while the Government will also seriously reflect on the demands made by the Congress”, said Sharma.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said on Friday the central government is seeking a consensus on the issue of levy of one percent additional tax for the proposed goods and services tax (GST).

Now that PM Narendra Modi has invited Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh on tea, Rahul is seeing a scheming plot in this.

The government is keen on pushing through the bill despite the stiff opposition from the Congress and other opposition parties. He said the demands of the party were well considered based on merit and the Congress believes that the GST has to be a driver of Indian economy.

The Congress had stalled passage of the GST Constitution Amendment Bill in the last session of Parliament over its demand that a revenue-neutral rate not higher than 18 per cent be mentioned in the Constitution Amendment bill.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu had stated Jaitley would converse to the Congress and different events to discover a breakthrough. “He is willing to speak to everyone”, he had said.

“Let me clarify we have absolutely no hesitation even at the level of the prime minister”.

Seen as the key to facilitating industrial growth and improving the business climate, the GST bill needs to be passed by two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament and by the legislatures of half the states to become law.