Monsoon Parl Session Will be Stormy; BJP Hopes to Pass GST Bill

BJP is hopeful about passing the GST Bill, amid indications that the Congress has lost some support on the issue.

File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. (Photo: PTI)

Sparks are set to fly on Monday, when Parliament meets for the first day of the Monsoon Session. The Opposition, boosted by the Supreme Court verdict on Arunachal Pradesh, is seeking to corner the treasury benches on a host of issues, including India’s failure to secure NSG membership.

On one other hand, the government is hopeful of a breakthrough on the key Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill, which it wants passed during the session, following a recent meeting between senior ministers and top Congress leaders.

In addition to this, the Modi government’s decision to seek a report from the Law Commission on the proposal for introducing a Uniform Civil Code are likely make the session a tempestuous affair.

(Photo: Lijumol Joseph/The Quint)

EAM Prepared to Discuss India’s Failure to Secure NSG Membership

On Friday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu had met Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma to iron out differences on key clauses of the GST bill.

The government is hopeful of the passage of the GST bill in this session amid indications that a number of regional parties have broken ranks with Congress on the issue and are willing to extend their support to the crucial economic reform measure.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is prepared to discuss India’s failure to enter the NSG and is also ready for discuss issues including Prime Minister’s recent foreign tours.

Other Important Bills

Besides the GST, another key legislation pending passage is the Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015, which was moved in December last year but the discussion on it had remained inconclusive. In the Budget Session this year, this bill could not be taken up for debate.

In the Lok Sabha, important bills like the Consumer Protection Bill 2015 and the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Bill, 2015 are pending.

The session is well-timed for the BJP; the ruling party’s morale is high after its maiden victory in the Assam Assembly polls and its performance in Kerala and West Bengal elections.

(With inputs from PTI.)