Hyderabad: Though only three days remain for the Rajya Sabha winter session to end, Union parliamentary affairs minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday expressed confidence that the Congress will support and help get the GST Bill passed, considering that it was first proposed by UPA-II.
Mr Naidu told reporters here that the government has got some positive signals from the Opposition regarding passage of a few important Bills in Parliament. “We hope from tomorrow (Monday) onwards, both Houses will run smoothly without any disruptions,” he said.
When asked on the fate of the GST Bill, Mr Naidu said, “We still hope the GST and Real Estate Bills, along with other Bills will be passed in this session. However, much depends on the Congress, if it supports (the Bills) the nation will benefit. The government is ready for a discussion on the Bill, if Congress has objections, it can raise them, but stalling the session is not good in the interest of nation.”
He said as many as 18 Bills are pending for clearance in the Rajya Sabha as on date. Reacting to Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s charge that the NDA government was “witch hunting and indulging in political vendetta against Congress leaders”, Mr Naidu said that “if there was any political vendetta, it was only during UPA rule and the victims were none other than present Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah”.
“We were never involved or responsible for the National Herald case. The Congress is blaming us unnecessarily, the facts are otherwise. It was during the UPA rule that Congress leaders starting playing vendetta politics against Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. When Modi was Gujarat Chief Minister he was issued summons, he went and deposed before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for eight hours. There was no rally or hungama, when BJP president Amit Shah was sent to jail, the party never stalled Parliament,” he said.
He reminded that the BJP never held demonstrations and victory rallies when both Modi and Amit Shah were given clean chits by courts. Mr Naidu also ridiculed the Congress leaders’ celebrating over Mrs Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi being granted. “What is there to celebrate? If a court granting bail is a victory for them, it is an awkward victory.”
He said that leaders occupying high posts should set an example of high standards in public life. “If a court issues summons, is it fair on their part to mobilise crowds to the court? Tomorrow, if someone else gets notices, is it the only way to demonstrate their strength to influence the courts?” he asked.
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