JD (U), NCP support GST but with amendments

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The Janata Dal (United) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Thursday voiced their support for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill but said that the government should look into amendments suggested by the opposition.

JD (U) president Sharad Yadav said that the BJP-led NDA must manage the Parliament if they wish to debate with the opposition.

"The Parliament must work because there are a lot of issues which need to be addressed. The country is reeling with drought, farmers are committing suicides, there's widespread unemployment and price rise is there. So, even we want the Parliament to run," Yadav told ANI.

"The NDA Government says that they are ready to debate on every topic, so they have to manage the floor according to that. The Parliament has been functioning from 68 years, but why is it that only this time, the NDA is unable to manage the floor?," he added.

Meanwhile, NCP leader Praful Patel said that the GST Bill should be passed in the Winter Session.

"We support the GST bill, but the government should look into amendments suggested by the opposition," added NCP's Tariq Anwar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had yesterday appealed to the opposition for cooperation as he made a strong pitch for early passage of the GST Bill, saying it will be in the interest of the nation.

Modi, who was speaking at the all party-meet convened by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, told the Opposition leaders that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will hold discussions with them on their concerns.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had earlier said his party strongly believes in the GST but with three amendments, inclusive of an 18 percent cap on tax, dispute resolution and removing one percent tax on inter-state sales.