NDA Ministers discussed legislative proposals to be brought before consideration of both the Houses of Parliament which include three Bills relating to replacement of Ordinances, GST Bill, Real Estate Regulation Bill etc.
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Government appeals to all parties to pass GST Bill in Winter session of Parliament, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said after an all party meeting. Taking strong exception to “usurping” of financial powers of states, the Andhra Pradesh government on Friday requested the Centre to refer the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill to a select committee. He said the government has established the parameters to have the best possible rates for GST.
BJP’s Parliamentary Party Executive and NDA constituents may also meet at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence to agency up technique for the session on Wednesday night. But the deadline may be missed if Parliament does not pass the Constitution Amendment Bill in the upcoming Winter Session. “While the monsoon session of Parliament was not productive, we are hoping that key bills will get passed in the winter session”. That means government will have to work extra hard to win opposition parties over and secure their support in driving legislation.
The government has indicated that it is willing to concede some of the demands of the Congress, but it would be highly unrealistic to think that all Congress demands would be met.
While the Opposition, united and emboldened after the Bihar election, is planning to corner the government on issues like Dadri and return of awards, the treasury side’s line of retaliation is likely to revolve around the theme that there was a “fabricated” campaign to defame the government. “Some positive movement on GST would certainly be taken very favourably by the market”, said Ajay Tyagi, EVP & Fund Manager – Equities, UTI Mutual Fund. “In the last decade, where ever GST has been implemented, it has added about 50 bps or 100 bps to GDP growth”.
However, one of the points of contention is that if the government puts a certain figure in the bill, then changing that percentage in the future will need another amendment in the Constitution.
On Rahul’s citizenship issue, a senior Congress leader said the party would firm up a counter offence depending on Speaker Sumitra Mahajan move.
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“The government is ready to discuss all issues, including intolerance”.
