Ready To Discuss GST, Intolerance,Other Issues : Modi Assures Cong
25 November, New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday assured the opposition leaders ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament that concerns over GST would be looked into by the Centre and his government’s readiness for discussion on all issues, including ‘intolerance’ in the House.
The assurances came at the all-party meeting that was held in the Parliament complex for taking the opposition in confidence and evolving a consensus over agenda and smooth proceeding during the session.
The Government at the meeting also held that it was aware of the concerns and sentiments of theopposition parties over unfortunate incidents of intolerance, including Dadri burning incident and killing of Kalburgi. The Prime Minister and the Government had already condemned them as sad and unfortunate happenings, it said.
In his brief observation at the meeting, Mr Modi hoped that all parties will work together and collectively ensure smooth and meaningful functioning of House, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters after the meeting.
“The Prime Minister has said that GST is in the interest of the nation…Finance Minister will speakto all parties to address their concerns on this Bill,” Naidu quoted Modi as saying in the meeting. Besides the Prime Minister, the meeting was attended by 42 leaders of various national and regional parties, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, JD(U) leaders Sharad Yadav and K C Tyagi, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury and CPI leader D Raja and chaired by Naidu.
He expressed full satisfaction over deliberations at the meeting saying leaders of all parties were cordial and positive in their approach and attitude, every one wants to have meaningful business, raise their respective issues of concern and public interests.
“All were positive and even over the passing of the GST Bill there was a general consensus. ”
Every one favoured passing of this Bill, even Congress, which has opposed the Bill in Monsoon Session, also held that it is also in favour of the Bill provided its concerns and demands are addressed duly. “We have ensured them that their stance and concerns would be duly discussed, the Finance Minister indicated them at the meeting that he would soon hold discussion with Congress leaders”.
However, CPM leader Yechuri and the Samajwadi Party chief expressed slight reservations and opted to remain non-committal over their stance on the Bill in the House. Congress also reiterated its stance saying that the Government has to address our demands and concerns.
Party leaders Azad and Kharge said, “Make the Bill pro-trader, pro-consumer and industryfriendly, cap the tax rate at 18 per cent, the party would support it but not in the present form”.
However, JD(U) leader Yadav reiterated that his party is in support of the Bill.
The opposition parties also expressed their intend of debate over intolerance and adoption of resolution against the trend.
As many as 38 legislative items–24 in priority category, including seven new Bills have been identified for the session that commences tomorrow and scheduled to conclude on December 23 after holding 20 sittings.