The Union government claimed that it had “enough” support for the passage of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, scheduled to be held from July 18 to August 12.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA), said the passage of the Bill was in the larger interest of the country.
Mr. Naidu said there was “wider support now and we have enough numbers to see the Bill through, but we would like to have all parties on board as the tax will have an effect on States”.
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Mr. Naidu said a division (physical counting of votes) would be the least preferred option and that the government preferred unanimous support.
Replying to questions on whether the government will step up efforts to bring on board the Congress, which has been opposing the Bill on some grounds, he said Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is ready to hold further discussions with all parties including the Congress.
Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza, when asked to respond to the BJP’s claim of having enough numbers, said: “Let them prove it.” A senior party leader confirmed that the Congress position remained unchanged.
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Besides GST, Mr. Naidu said the government will push for the passage of three Bills replacing ordinances on Combined Entrance Exam (CEE) for medical and dental colleges as well as the one seeking amendments to the Enemy Property Act. The monsoon session will have 20 working days, according to the schedule.
Mr. Naidu disclosed that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had also expressed her readiness to discuss the recent foreign visits of the government and the status of the negotiations to get membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
Congress leader Kapil Sibal had earlier hinted that the party would take up the government’s “diplomatic failures”, the large number of terror strikes in recent months and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy’s provocative statements.
It may also demand that the Reserve Bank of India’s notification of the increase in FDI caps be brought before Parliament.
The CCPA meeting was chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who pushed for the early passage of the Lokpal and Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said there was a need for an early passage of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill.
Both are pending in Parliament.
As of now 56 Bills are pending — 11 in the Lok Sabha and 45 in the Rajya Sabha. Mr. Naidu said he had also asked ministries to come up with at least 25 new Bills.