Naidu says govt keen to extend monsoon session to pass GST

Urges Congress to cooperate in the passage of the key tax reform and not politicize the issue

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said the government was keen to extend the monsoon session of Parliament to pass the goods and services tax (GST) constitutional amendment Bill. He also urged the Congress to cooperate in the passage of the tax reform, not politicise the issue.

The Monsoon session of Parliament, from July 21 to August 13, is yet to be prorogued, that is officially called to an end. This allows the government the leeway to call a brief extended Monsoon session to pass the GST constitutional amendment Bill. The government is yet to announce the date for the extended Monsoon session, but it could take place later this month.

The government's been confident that all other parties, including non-National Democratic Alliance parties, apart from the Congress, will support the GST constitutional amendment in the Rajya Sabha. The NDA is in a minority in the Rajya Sabha. The GST, if not passed soon, is unlikely to meet its rollout deadline of April 1, 2016.

However, according to the rules of procedure, the House should be in order for the passage of a constitutional amendment Bill. After the two Houses of Parliament pass the GST Bill, more than half the state assemblies need to ratify it. In the case of the GST, three more enabling legislations need to be passed before it is rolled out in April 2016.