Describing the logjam in Parliament as “unfortunate”, BJP President Amit Shah on Wednesday said the Congress should support the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill.

The Bill, he said had been stalled for political reasons.

“Whatever is happening in Parliament is unfortunate, we appeal to Congress to support the GST Bill,” he said during an event organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

Shah said the Bill was proposed by the Congress during the UPA rule, with BJP supporting the same. So it is only logical that the Congress now lends its support as a “responsible Opposition”.

“There is still one day left in the Monsoon Session (August 13). So if the Congress, as a responsible Opposition, understands its responsibilities and supports the bill in the Rajya Sabha, then it will increase the growth rate. We can’t do anything more than make an appeal (to support the bill),” Shah said.

The BJP chief, however, said that the stalling of the Bill notwithstanding, the country’s economic growth will not suffer. It is on track to achieving 10 per cent growth by 2017, he claimed.

“When we mooted the idea of 10 per cent growth rate, we were aware of the nitty-gritties (sic) of multi-party democracy. We have our alternatives ready,” Shah added.

Immigrant issue

Shah said the Centre was also looking at resolving the issue of Bangladeshi immigrants in the eastern and north-eastern regions. A three-pronged strategy is being formulated.

Updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, is one such move.

The Centre will also look at early completion of border-fencing with Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi government has been approached for this purpose. The Indian side of the Indo-Bangladesh border passes through West Bengal (2,216.7 km), Assam (263 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Tripura (856 km) and Mizoram (318 km). 

Shah also reiterated the demand to give citizenship to Hindu refugees from Bangladesh.

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