LS takes up Goods and Services Tax Bill for discussion
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New Delhi: While the Lok Sabha took up for discussion the Goods and Services Tax Bill, the Centre is heading for a tough time in the Rajya Sabha, where a united Opposition forced the deferment of the controversial Real Estate Bill, that seeks to regulate the realty business.
The Opposition in the Lok Sabha made its stand clear that the GST Bill needed scrutiny of a parliamentary committee. This despite the fact that Speaker Sumitra Mahajan overruled repeated Opposition demands to refer the bill to the standing committee and allowed a discussion on the bill.
Sensing trouble, the government went into a huddle with its allies, asking all MPs to be present in both Houses of the Parliament. Parliamentary affairs minister M. Venkaiah Naidu held a meeting of the floor leaders of NDA allies in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. He asked them to ensure the presence of each and every member on Wednesday to ensure the smooth passage of the GST Bill in the Lok Sabha.
The Congress stuck to the demand that the bill be sent to the standing committee. In the Lok Sabha, the Congress supported the GST Bill, but party leader M. Veerappa Moily opposed some of the Bill’s provisions. He was supported by the AIADMK and the BJD.
Meanwhile, a united Opposition on Tuesday forced deferment of the controversial Real Estate Bill, that seeks to regulate the realty business. Due to be put up for consideration and passage by the government in the Rajya Sabha, the bill was put off indefinitely after a united Opposition insisted on sending it to a select committee. Mr Naidu said he had informed the House that he would not take up the bill for consideration till consultations with various parties was over.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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