In the Upper House, the announcement was made by minister of state for parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. While making a statement regarding government business for the week starting August 1, he listed the constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, 2014 also known as GST Bill.
A big day may finally come for the government next week, with the most talked about GST Reforms Bill being listed in the agenda of Rajya Sabha, for its consideration and passage. The last few weeks have placed finance minister Arun Jaitley in exhaustive negotiations with the main opposition party, the Congress, and consultations with state governments and regional parties, whose support is key to the legislation.
"We have our fingers crossed," Jaitley told reporters on Friday, indicating that the government believes it has accrued the support of two-thirds of the Rajya Sabha, needed to amend the Constitution to turn the GST Bill into law. Of the 32 parties, 30 are now supporting the Bill.
In the Upper House, the announcement was made by minister of state for parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. While making a statement regarding government business for the week starting August 1, he listed the constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, 2014 also known as GST Bill.
Sources within the government and the Congress said there was an agreement now to drop a one per cent tax on goods crossing states that was designed to compensate those states that manufacture goods (because GST is a consumption tax and they would lose money). Once the constitutional amendment is passed, the government will present a Bill on the details of the GST, which will include the rate of tax along with a limit that it cannot exceed. The GST, which replaces a confounding slew of central and state taxes with a unified national tax, could boost India's economic growth by two percentage points, the finance minister has claimed.
The Rajya Sabha has 243 members currently (two seats are vacant). The government needs two-thirds or 162 votes in its favour. The government not only needs the Congress support, but also its cooperation by not disrupting the House. A Constitution Amendment Bill cannot be passed in the din.
While top Congress leaders told dna there was a near agrement and substantial progress in behind-the-scene parleys with the government, party chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said no final decision has been taken as as yet. He, however, said the party was happy that Union Cabinet has acceded to some of demand raised by Congress Party to remove the 1% additional Tax. He said for rest of two demands of ring fencing the GST to an outer limit of 18% and also creating an independent mechanism for redressal of disputes, there is an on-going conversation with the government.
While Congress is demanding a ceiling of 18%, Kerala is asking for 24%. Surjiwala said with income tax slabs already between 30% and 40%, it is not reasonable and proper. Originally, Congress has given a list of 8-9 suggestions, but after deliberations they came down to three. “We are extremely happy to note that Government has seen reason; Cabinet has amended its GST and is willing to negotiate further,” he said, igniting a hope of its passage next week.
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 "Arun Jaitley")
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