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The Centre is considering advancing the Winter Session of Parliament for the passage of the GST Bill meant to allow rolling out of goods and services tax throughout the country.
The Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Venkaiah Naidu, on Saturday said: “If there is consensus, the Government is willing to advance the Winter Session of Parliament for the passage of GST Bill.”
He told this to reporters here after inaugurating an event on the Smart City Mission.
GST consensus
He said the Government was trying to engage the Opposition parties for a consensus on the issue. “Discussions were on”, he added.
The Minister mentioned that he and the Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, had talks with seniors Congress leaders, including Anand Sharma, on the subject.
In a clear hint for the success of ongoing back channel discussions, the Minister said, “After taking to them, it appears there could be consensus among political parties.”
He added certain Opposition parties like Trinamool Congress have agree to lend support to the GST Bill.
The Lok Sabha has passed the Constitution (122nd Amendment) (GST) Bill, but it did not get the Rajya Sabha accent as the Opposition boycotted the discussion on the Bill during the Monsoon Session. The Bill has also been weighed by the Select Committee, as demanded by Congress, and placed its report before the Rajya Sabha.
The Minister indicated that a section of the Opposition agrees that the passage of GST Bill would be significant for the growth of the economy. The Bill, originally prepared by the UPA Government at the Centre, would expire on March 31, 2016.
The NDA Government needs consensus or substantial Opposition’s support to pass the Bill as it lacks the required number – 163 votes -- in the Rajya Sabha.
On the issue of Land Bill, the Minister suggested that the Centre might consider the demand for referring it to the States.
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