Talks on to end GST deadlock

New Delhi:  Government is engaging with various parties to ensure the passage of GST Bill during the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar said on Saturday.
He said there is “widespread” demand for early introduction of the GST bill in Rajya Sabha, where it is pending for a long time, and government will make “best possible” efforts to make this key tax reform legislation sees the light of the day.
There is a widespread demand for early introduction of GST from almost all the political parties, state governments, trade and industrial bodies and even general public. Government is engaged in talks with political parties to ensure passage of the Bill during the current Monsoon session.
“The government on its part would make the best possible effort to ensure that this long pending legislation sees the light of the day during this session. I appeal to all parties to sense the mood of the nation and cooperate in this regard,” he said.
Kumar said the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of Rajya Sabha has already allocated five hours for discussing this Bill and termed it as an important development.
The Minister said bills relating to afforestation fund, prevention of corruption, benami transactions and whistle blowers protection are on the agenda during the second week of the session.
After a productive first week of the Monsoon session that saw passage of five bills out of 16 proposed by the government, he said five Bills have been lined up for consideration and passage in the coming week. These include the Benami Transactions (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2015 and the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in Lok Sabha and the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 and Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015 in Rajya Sabha.
Kumar said other Bills on the agenda of Rajya Sabha during the second week beginning July 25 include the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2015, the Indian Medical Council Bill, 2016, the Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education Bill, 2016. (PTI)