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The Congress did not allow any government business in the Rajya Sabha for the second consecutive day. The party reiterated its demand for a voting on the Bill to provide special status for Andhra Pradesh, which the BJP refused.
The strident stand of the Congress and the BJP has apparently hampered the dialogues on the GST Bill, too. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told the Upper House that the Bill is a money Bill and the House has no right to vote on it. Opposition members questioned that logic and said the Bill was property since August 2015 and it was tabled only after the President’s permission.
The issue is likely to figure in the House in the coming days, too. As the Centre made it clear that the Bill should not be voted on, the Congress will continue to disrupt government business unless there is a resolution between the two parties.
The issue is likely to be taken up at the leaders’ meeting on Wednesday and the Business Advisory Committee on Thursday.
Though Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien suggested a compromise formula, that the voting process can be completed on Friday, both the ruling party and the Opposition have not accepted it. The Compensatory Afforestation Bill could not be taken up on Tuesday either.
Earlier on Tuesday, a strategy meeting of Congress leaders in the Rajya Sabha also decided to stick on its position on the Bill.
The party believes the Bill is key for its revival in Andhra Pradesh, where it was decimated in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
“The voting was disrupted by BJP members. They do not want the Bill to get passed,” said Jairam Ramesh, who led the Congress’ tirade against the BJP. Congress members stormed into the well, calling the Centre an enemy of Andhra Pradesh.
TDP up in arms The TDP’s stand also encouraged the Congress. Minister of State in the Modi Cabinet, YS Chowdhury, said the Bill should be voted as the issue is critical to AP. He reiterated his party’s demand for special status for AP, and reminded the government that it was a promise made on the floor of the House.
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury also demanded that the Centre bring clarity on its stand.
Jaitley, however, said the Bill is not in keeping with the Constitution and should not be passed in the Rajya Sabha.
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