The Congress has repeatedly accused the government of failing to bring the opposition on board on GST, billed as the biggest tax reform since independence. Congress leaders explained their position on the three issues while the history and background of the issue was explained to them (by the government).
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The Congress’ three issues are – a demand for specifying the proposed 18 per cent rate in the Constitution amendment bill, opposition to the additional one per cent levy on inter-state movement of goods and 100 per cent compensation to states for revenue loss for five years.
The 45-minute meeting, at which finance minister Arun Jaitley, parliamentary affairs minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were present, was termed an “ice-breaker” by a government source. There will be regular meetings between Naidu and Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Ghulam Nabi Azad in both houses throughout the Winter Session of Parliament.
The Congress, the Janata Dal-United and the CPM have made their intention clear by deciding to give notices for debate on intolerance and attacking the government on reform measures, including the GST Bill.
The proposed goods and services tax (GST) should be set at a rate of less than 20 percent, the opposition Congress party said on Thursday, signalling willingness to compromise as long as the government takes into account its concerns. “We want to pass the GST and cooperate with the government”, Rahul added.
“We are prepared to discuss any issue permitted by the chair”, Naqvi said.
The “tone and tenor” of the opposition parties was very positive, he said.
“I quite agree with the Congress party leadership when they say that a solution has to be found by way of discussion”.
If things went well, the issues might be solved and it may become easy that the chances of GST being passed in parliament.
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On the first two days of the session, starting tomorrow, the two houses will hold special sittings to commemorate the adoption of Indian Constitution on 26th November 1949 and honour its architect, Dr. B R Ambedkar. A government official familiar with the discussions said one more meeting may be required at the level of the prime minister on the issue. Observers said the immediate implication of the Centre’s accommodating initiatives may be that the two Houses of Parliament may resume normal business without disruptions, unlike the monsoon session when Vyapam-Lalitgate protests blocked all proceedings in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha too was badly affected despite government’s overwhelming numbers.
