Passage of GST through consensus will boost economy: Venkaiah Naidu

Expressing confidence of a meaningful and purposeful discussion in the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill should be approved by consensus as it will boost the Indian economy.

Stating that several people are in favour of the GST Bill as they are pro-development, Naidu said this would not only benefit the Centre but also the states.

"So, I'm confident that we will have a meaningful session because the people of the country they are more interested in development, more interested in the reforms for development, more initiatives by the government and the situation worldwide is favourable to India. World is looking towards India, world economy is slowing down. China is going negative; India is the only bright spot," Naidu told mediapersons here.

"In the last two years, we have brought back the economy on rise. Now, if we have GST also approved, the economy will get further boost and it will be strengthened, it will provide more opportunities for job. The Centre will also be benefited and states will also be benefited," Naidu added.

The Information and Broadcasting Minister stated that the Centre has made all efforts to ensure that the suggestions put forth by various state governments with regard to the GST Bill are incorporated in the legislation.

"Many of the issues raised by the states were also answered by the Finance Minister and then the five finance ministers of different states headed the empowered committee on GST. They made their recommendations," he said.

Naidu further said Prime Minster Narendra Modi had invited his predecessor Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi for a meeting during which they raised three issues against the Bill, adding the government has solved two of their issues.

"Once the Bill comes before the House, we can have a meaningful discussion and I'm sure at the end of it, the GST will be approved," Naidu said while stating that the general mood in the country is in the favour of the Bill.

"Majority of the states are in favour of the Bill and no political party has taken the open stand against the Bill. That being the case, I'm sure the Bill will be passed," he added.

Urging the opposition parties to ensure the GST Bill passage through consensus, Naidu said, "Let us pass the Bill by consensus and majority through majority of the numbers... I wish at the end of the day if it is approved through consensus then that will be good for the country."

The Information and Broadcasting Minister also threw light on the other important Bills likely to come during the Monsoon Session.

"Then there is a CAMPA Bill also...that also if it is approved, we will get around 40,000 crores. Much of the money will go to the states. Then we have a Medical Council of India, Dental Council of India ordinances, we have a Bill for the Enemy Property. The Bill also brought as an ordinance that has to be approved," he said.