Bill on GST introduced in Rajya Sabha amid ruckus

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday introduced a constitutional amendment bill to enable implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) in the country in the Rajya Sabha amid ruckus on Tuesday.

The bill was introduced in the house after a report by a select committee of the Rajya Sabha.

As Congress members created a ruckus and trooped near the chairman's podium, an angry Jaitley said the protests were aimed at stalling the economic growth of the country.

"The real purpose is that they want to stop economic progress... They don't want Indian economy to grow and that is why they are looking for one pretext or other to make sure that the GST legislation which will give a boost to India's economy is not passed," he said.

"If the Congress party wants the economy of the country to slow down when every political party is in support of it, they must candidly say so," he added.

Introduction of the bill was opposed by Congress leader Anand Sharma, who said the business advisory committee has not allotted time for debating the bill.

"No time has been allocated (for the bill), it has not come in the bulletin, BAC (Business Advisory Committee) did not give time... This is violation of the rules," he contended.

While the government said the BAC had allotted four hours for debating the bill in the last session, Sharma said it was void as the bill then went to a select committee.

Later, soon after the bill was moved, the Congress started its protest, demanding the resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The house was adjourned for the day by Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien soon after.