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BJP hopes for constructive winter session

The crucial GST bill is also pending in Parliament which the government hopes to pass in the upcoming session. I am already in touch with some of the Opposition parties.

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However, on the GST bill, both sides talked about the need for discussions to thrash out issues on some of the contentious clauses.

The winter session in the parliament is going begin and the prime minister Narendra Modi himself has approached the opposition for the smooth running of the parliament house in this winter season.

“These bills are for reforms in the country and for the development of all”, he said.

Prime Minister further said that Finance Minister Arun Jaitely is talking to leaders of different parties regarding GST Bill.

“The opposition will be cooperating with the government but it is for the government to accommodate the viewpoints of the opposition”, he said.

“We are open for discussions”, Azad meanwhile said. We played the role of a constructive opposition when we were in the opposition. “What is happening in the country is distrubing and the Prime Minister is silent”.

“Yes, we do want a GST. The public mood is nearly one-sided in favour of the GST”, he said.

While the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is in majority in the Lok Sabha, it lacks the legislative muscle to push through legislations in the Rajya Sabha where the opposition parties have the numbers.

The resolution itself could become a point of contention though government sources said all attempts will be made to ensue there is a consensus over its spirit and wording.

There are other issues too, where the opposition will also try to corner the government such as price rise of essential food items, mainly pulses. “The government has to accept the fact that the Congress has its views”, he said, adding, “We want to protect you from suit-boot”.

“We would like to support each and every bill on merit”. We have nothing to hide.

“We are ready for debate and discussion”.

“In the winter session there are only 15 days on which the government’s legislative agenda can be discussed”. Yechury had said that six Left parties, including CPI(M), would also hold protests, both inside and outside the House, on the “hate offensive” by BJP and Sangh Parivar outfits.

While GST remains the priority for the government, which wanted it implemented by April 2016, there are 38 bills and ordinances the government has listed for the winter session.

BJP allies have in the past often called for more regular meetings of the NDA.

The SAD leaders, meanwhile, pitched for an amendment to the SGPC Act and home minister Rajnath Singh assured them that it would be looked into.

These include that the revenue-neutral rate be not higher than 18 per cent and it be mentioned in the Constitution Amendment bill.

Speaking at an event in Bangalore, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, repeated that his party is all for GST provided the Modi government doesn’t show off its majoritarian approach to opposition and discuss issues to resolve the differences on GST.

During almost month-long session, around 30 bills, including GST and Real Estate regulation Bills, are slated to be taken up for consideration and passing. It has not convened an all-party meeting, which it should have done to discuss the same.

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Modi’s “friend” Barack (Obama) during his visit this January when he warned India not to stray from its constitutional commitment to allow the people to freely “profess, practice and propagate” religion. Earlier on Monday, the Finance Ministry initiated an exercise to effect the changes in the bill that the Congress has been seeking.

Venkaiah Naidu