Will GST finally see light of day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday again expressed hope that all parties will work unitedly in the Monsoon Session of Parliament to take important decisions that will give a new direction to the country. On July 17, during the all-party meeting on the eve of the session, he had expressed similar sentiments while reaching out to the Opposition parties to build consensus over the vexed legislation on GST.

In the NDA meeting also, Mr Modi said that the GST would be beneficial for the states and the government will talk to all parties on it and will seek a consensus for its passage. He also urged that the ruling coalition partners should be seen united on NDA’s achievements and their should be coordination between them on issues. Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut raised the Kashmir issue in the meeting, saying the PM should have a “chai pe charcha” (talk over tea) with the people of Kashmir. He said the government should have opened a dialogue with the residents of the Valley, to which the PM said that his government has nothing to hide and would take everybody into confidence while dealing with it.

Noting that the session is taking place just ahead of the 70th Independence Day, Mr Modi said he was confident that discussions of the highest standard will be held.

Addressing the media outside Parliament at the start of the Monsoon session, the Prime Minister said that based on the talks with all parties over the last few days, the prevailing mood was to take “very good decisions so that the country can move ahead on the path of development with greater speed”.

Remembering those who sacrificed their life for the country’s Independence, Mr Modi said, “Everyone should work together, shoulder to shoulder to take the journey of the last 70 years to greater heights, to give a new pace to the country, to have discussion of highest standard, to take important decisions and to ensure Indian moves ahead with great speed.”

The government is hopeful of a breakthrough on the key GST bill, which it wants passed during the session, following a recent meeting between senior ministers and top Congress leaders. The two sides are likely to meet again during the session.

However, sparks are set to fly this monsoon session with the Opposition, boosted by the Supreme Court verdict on Arunachal Pradesh, seeking to corner the treasury benches on a host of issues, including India’s failure to secure NSG membership.

Meanwhile the Prime Minister introduced the new ministers in his Cabinet to members in both Houses of Parliament on the first day of the monsoon session.

The Prime Minister had inducted 19 new faces in his Council of Ministers in the expansion which took place on July 5.

As per custom, Modi introduced his new colleagues in the Government to the Lok Sabha and later to the Rajya Sabha on the first day of the session.

These included Prakash Javadekar, the new HRD minister, who has been elevated to the Cabinet rank.

Vijay Goel, Anil Madhav Dave, Faggan Singh Kulaste, S S Ahluwalia, Ramdas Athawale, Ramesh Chandrappa, Rajen Gohain, Purushottam Rupala, Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor, Arjun Ram Meghwal, M J Akbar, Mahendra Nath Pandey, Ajay Tamta, Krishna Raj, Mansukh Mandavia, Anupriya Patel, C R Chaudhary, P P Chaudhary and Subhash Ramrao Amre were among the new ministers of state and ministers of state with Independent charge introduced to the House.