NDA keen to push GST bill in Winter Session of Parliament

Dated 17th October, 2015

Concerned over the fate of the flagship reform GST bill, the government will open a fresh round of consultations with the Opposition parties after the Bihar poll results.

M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said further discussions with the Opposition on passing the bill will be held during the Winter Session of Parliament after the Bihar elections while expressing the hope that the government would be able to meet April 2016 deadline for introduction of GST bill across the country.

The government had earlier managed to pass the bill in the Lok Sabha but the Congress refused to support the legislation in the Upper House where the NDA lacks in strength.

While the government has consistently attacked the Congress for opposing the GST bill which was initiated by the previous Congress-led UPA government, the Opposition has accused the government of taking unilateral decisions and not consulting it on key legislations.

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Besides, the Congress had listed its opposition to some of the clauses in the GST bill which it said were against the interests of the industry. "We have articulated our position before the government," chief spokesperson of the Congress Randeep Surjewala said.

(This story is published on 17^th Oct, 2015)