New Delhi: Facing opposition flak on the issue of black money, BJP on Tuesday sought to wriggle out of the situation by saying that it was ready for a discussion on it.
"We are committed and sincere to bring back black money from abroad. Government is fully prepared for a discussion on black money. We are fully prepared to present the facts on the efforts to bring back black money," Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters after the meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Party here.
The meeting was shifted to the Parliament House library today and saw Finance Minister Arun Jaitley speak on the GST issue even as Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu told the MPs to make this session fruitful.
Addressing the members, Jaitley said government is trying to get the GST bill in this session and get it passed by the next session.
He said there are apprehensions by states on the issue and the government will try to clear them. The Finance Minister said these were there because of the multi-level taxation system in the country.
Rudy said the party was committed and sincere in its efforts in bringing back black money stashed abroad and will take the opportunity to explain to opposition the successful efforts made by the government in bringing back black money.
On the contentious GST issue, which intends to create a common market, Rudy said the government intends to bring a legislation in this session itself and hoped it will be passed by the next session of Parliament.
"The government will talk to all states in this regard and will try to bring about a consensus on the issue and introduce GST in the country by the year 2016. A bill will be introduced in this session and will be passed in the next session. This will be followed by three other legislations in support of this next year," he said.
Today's meeting was attended by all party MPs, including veteran L K Advani, besides Union Ministers including Nitin Gadkari. Home Minister Rajnath Singh was not present.
