Spl Parliament Session Might Be Called To Pass GST Bill

13 August, New Delhi

A special session of Parliament might be convened to pass the GST Bill, which could not be taken up in the just concluded monsoon session because of the disruptions created by the main Opposition Congress Party in the Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley indicated here Thursday.

The Government looks sure of isolating the Congress on the issue in the Upper House where the main Opposition party is the largest group.

Jaitley said that though no decision had been taken at today’s Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs to call a special session of Parliament, both the Houses had not been prorogued but adjourned only sine die.

”We are determined to meet the April 1, 2016 deadline,” Jaitley said here addressing a press conference.

He slammed the ruling Congress for its ”negative attitude” all through the session, because of which the Bill could not be taken up in the Upper House.

When asked how a special session would change the situation as the numbers in the Rajya Sabha would remain the same, Jaitley expressed the confidence that this time no other party would support the Congress.

”Numbers in the Rajya Sabha are loaded against the Congress,” he said. But he did not did not explain how this would be achieved, saying he could not disclose his government’s full strategy.