After the washout of the Monsoon Session of Parliament Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday asserted that the Government will meet the deadline for the rollout of Goods and Services Tax (GST), even as the Government did not prorogue Parliament and kept open the option of holding a special session for the passage of the GST Bill.
Jaitley said the Government will lobby with “non-Congress parties” to facilitate passage of the Constitutional Amendment Bill if the Congress again persisted with its obstructions.
“The Government is committed to the April 1, 2016, deadline for the implementation of GST,” Jaitley said at a Press conference here. Asked whether the two Houses would be prorogued, he said “as yet no decision has been taken.”
When asked whether the Government could meet the deadline by passing GST in the Winter Session, the Finance Minister said “it will be extremely difficult.” He charged the Congress with deliberately delaying the key legislation and thereby “stopping the growth of the country.”
He said all regional parties and States were strong votaries of GST and the BJP would galvanise their support against the Congress Party.
The GST Bill, an Constitutional amendment legislation, would require the presence of at least 50 per cent of the House and must be passed by no less than two thirds of its majority. The numbers may be hard to gather in the absence of the Congress’ support.
Asked how the Government would manage the passage, Jaitley said, “Don’t expect me to reveal all strategy. I am leaving something for your speculation.” Earlier, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs which met after Parliament was adjourned sine die, decided not to recommend immediate prorogation of the two Houses.
Under Article 85(2) of the Constitution, the President is vested with the power to prorogue both Houses of Parliament. If Houses are not prorogued and are only left at being adjourned sine die by the Chair in Parliament, the same session continues and can be reconvened at any time.
The Government had on Tuesday moved for consideration of Rajya Sabha the Constitution Amendment Bill for introduction of GST but a debate on it was blocked by a vociferous Congress which raised procedural issues.
During the entire four weeks of the Monsoon Session which began on July 21, the lalit Modi controversy and Vyapam scam of Madhya Pradesh dominated, resulting in paralysis of both lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
The confrontation escalated when lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on August 3 suspended 25 of the 44 Congress members for five days for continuously disrupting the House and displaying placards.
The Speaker’s action made several Opposition parties join hands with Congress and they collectively boycotted the lower House of Parliament for five days to show solidarity with the suspended MPs.
Rajya Sabha was a complete washout while lok Sabha managed to work during Question Hour amid din for a number of days and saw some legislative business in the absence of boycotting Opposition parties.