Winter session to start tomorrow, Government to focus on GST Bill

Winter session of Parliament beginning Thurday is set to be stormy with opposition parties closing ranks to target government on issues including 'intolerance' even as the ruling dispensation, which is keen to pass the GST bill, expressed its readiness to discuss all issues.

The opposition attack is set to gain momentum from next Monday when the government brings its legislative agenda on the table after a two-day special sitting to discuss Constitution and its maker B R Ambedkar on his 125th birth anniversary.

The government has called an all-party meeting today. BJP parliamentary party executive and NDA constituents will meet later at the Prime Minister's residence followed by an all-party meeting called by the Speaker.

Amid indications of a tough session ahead, senior ministers yesterday huddled to chalk out the strategy and work out floor coordination plans while parties like Congress, JDU and CPI-M made their intent clear, deciding to give notices for debate on the issue of intolerance and attacking the government on the key reform measure of GST.

NDA ministers discussed legislative proposals to be brought before consideration of both the Houses of Parliament which include three Bills relating to replacement of Ordinances, GST Bill, Real Estate Regulation Bill etc.

The ministers also discussed recent incidents like Dadri killing, rationalist M M Kalburgi's killing and some other ones based on which a campaign alleging rising intolerance is on.

Government is likely to take the line in Parliament that the Centre and BJP have nothing to do with these incidents and put the ball in the court of the states.

Government managers are also expected to state that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already responded to the matters.

The view in the government is that there was no reason for it to be defensive in these matters but at the same time it should be ready to discuss them if the opposition insists for the same.

On GST, the government's woes are far from over. CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said on Tuesday that the government has not done its homework on GST bill.

"It has not convened an all-party meeting, which it should have done to discuss the same. Government will be solely responsible if the bill is not cleared in the House as it has not done its homework."

On the GST issue, the party has sent a clear signal that it wanted the bill to be passed if the concerns of the party are met.

A total of 38 Bills, including some finance bills, are awaiting parliamentary approval. The crucial GST bill is also pending in Parliament which the government hopes to pass in the session.