Congress to raise issue of intolerance, farmers' suicide in Parliament

The Congress Party on Wednesday said discussions should take place in Parliament on intolerance, inflation, floods and farmers suicide.

Briefing the media here, party senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the incidents of communal tension and intolerance have considerably increased, and the issue should be addressed in the winter session beginning on Thursday.

He said his party would ensure that Parliament functions, but the government should accommodate opposition's concern.

Replying to a query whether the party will support the passage of Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, Azad said his party would support the passage, but after certain amendments. The Congress leader said GST should be "pro-trade" and "pro-consumer".

The party sought some changes in the GST, including capping of GST rate at 18 percent, in the constitution amendment bill, as also scrapping of the one percent tax on inter-state trade.

The government intends to rollout GST from April 1, for which it needs to get the Constitutional amendment bill passed in the present session.