GST Bill: BJP issues whip to its Rajya Sabha members

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday issued a three-line whip to its Rajya Sabha members, asking them to be present in the house for the next three days during the discussion on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill.

The GST Bill is likely to come up for discussion and passage in the Upper House tomorrow.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with his top Cabinet colleagues earlier on July 30 to firm up the strategy for the passage of GST Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

The Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha has earmarked five hours discussion for the bill, which seeks to introduce a system for uniform taxation across the country.

The government needs the support of two-third members of the Upper House to amend the Constitution to turn the GST into law.

The Union Cabinet had cleared changes in the bill last week dropping one percent additional tax on inter-state sales and providing guarantee to compensate states for any revenue loss in the first five years of rollout.

The GST Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in May last year, but is stuck in the Rajya Sabha due to resistance from the opposition.