Our Correspondent /
Parliamentary affairs minister M Venkaiah Naidu today said government might convene second part of Monsoon Session to pass key legislations after talking to all political parties. Talking to media persons in Parliament House campus, Mr Naidu appealed to all political parties to cooperate in the functioning of Parliament. He said government is having open mind and amendments, if any, on GST Bill can be approved on the floor of the House.
Both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die on 13th of this month, after the main Opposition Congress stalled proceedings and prevented legislative business to be conducted.
Government has already start reaching out to opposition Congress amid moves to call a special session of Parliament for passage of Goods and Services Tax Bill. Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu met senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi to discuss special Parliament session on GST. However, congress remained non-committal on its support. Mr Kharge said that party would first read the fine print.
Talking to media after the meeting, Mr Kharge said Centre wants to call a special session and they are consulting all parties. He said party cannot comment on a special session unless it sees the amended clauses and the final bill. The Congress leader said that one has to see which provisions have been accepted or deleted in the bill. He asserted that the GST bill has to be passed by both the houses of Parliament separately and not by calling just a joint session.
Congress is strongly opposed to the GST Bill in the present form and is insisting on three key amendments. The Bill has been stuck in a political logjam in the Rajya Sabha where the ruling NDA does not have a majority.