Bharatiya Janata Party has once again reached out to the Congress for the smooth passage of the Goods and Services Tax Bill (GST). “We are willing to hold a special session, if needed, for the passage of the Bill,” Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs, told newspersons.
Congress has stalled the passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill in last two sessions affecting government’s plan to roll out GST from April 1, 2016.
“I fervently appeal to the Congress to give up its negativity that was in full show in 2015 and make positive contribution to nation building in 2016. The government is willing to walk the extra mile to take opposition on board to unleash the positive energies necessary for building a new resurgent India,” he said after flagging off the first set of train sets for the Kochi Metro Rail.
Naidu strongly rebutted former finance minister P Chidambaram's allegation blaming the government for the standoff on GST. "The Congress party steadfastly refused from its pre-winter session script of not allowing GST Bill to be passed come what may. As per the script, they were dodgy on this important issue. I did not expect this from a party that ruled the country for most of the time since Independence," he said.