India Inc’s efforts to persuade Parliamentarians to pass the Goods & Services Tax-related Constitution Amendment Bill went in vain on Wednesday as the Rajya Sabha could not take up the Bill. With just one sitting left in the session, the possibility of the Bill getting passed during the Monsoon Session looks remote.
Top industrialists led an online petition to bring normalcy in the Rajya Sabha, so that GST-related legislation could be passed. However, after a couple of adjournments, when the Deputy Chairperson called for a discussion on the Constitution Amendment Bill, Congress MPs shouted slogans and encircled the Well, leading to adjournment of the House for the day.
The Bill was moved on Tuesday, but could not be taken up due to disruptions.
While industry chamber CII was instrumental in an online campaign, FICCI also lent its support for the passage of the Bill. FICCI President Jyotsna Suri said passage of key legislation is urgently needed to boost business sentiment, encourage greater domestic investments and create over a million jobs each month.
“GST is one such reform, which, once implemented, can add over 1.5 percentage points to GDP growth. We look forward to progressive dialogue and political consensus on key socio-economic issues in Parliament to further the national growth agenda,” she said.
However, the move by India Inc did not go down well with senior Opposition MPs. JD(U) President Sharad Yadav raised the issue of the online petition in the Rajya Sabha.
‘Working for rich people’ Alleging that corporate houses are intervening in the functioning of Parliament, Yadav said that it was clear that the system was now working in favour of rich people.
“There has been an allegation that Parliament, elected by 125 crore people, is controlled by a few moneybags. Now, that charge has been vindicated (through the complaint of India Inc). How dare they take such a step of running the country’s Parliament,” he asked.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was quick to rebut the charge. “Do you think that the common man in the country has no interest in running the House? Do you think that those who voted for you do not want Parliament to function,” asked Jaitley.
Opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury condemned the move by corporate houses. “We want the House to function and, if somebody is expressing their interest, especially businessmen — for the first time, I have heard them say such things — it is okay. But they cannot interfere with our work,” Yechury said.
The Monsoon Session concludes on Thursday and unless a special session is called, the Bill will be taken up only during the Winter Session.