Modi to intervene during GST debate in Lok Sabha

The government is likely to move the amended Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill in the Lok Sabha for passage on Monday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi likely to intervene in the debate.

The government has listed the bill for next week's legislative business in the lower house along with other important bills.

During the forthcoming week, the lower House will also take up the Central Agricultural University (Amendment) Bill, the Employee's Compensation (Amendment) Bill, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, and the High Courts (Alteration of Names) Bill, 2016, an official source said here on Saturday.

The Lok Sabha is also likely to consider the amendments made by the Rajya Sabha in the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016 and the Mental Health Care Bill, 2013.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued a whip asking its members to be present in the house on Monday in view of the GST bill being taken up for consideration.

Modi, who was under attack by the Opposition parties, especially the Congress for his absence during the passage of the Constitution amendment bill for GST in the Rajya Sabha on August 3, is now likely to intervene in the Lok Sabha, sources said.

The passing of the Constitution's 122nd Amendment Bill relating to Goods and Services Tax (GST) by "huge consensus in the Rajya Sabha was the hallmark of the third week of monsoon Session of Parliament", a statement from the Parliamentary Affairs ministry said.

The amendments made by Rajya Sabha in the Constitution Amendment Bill as passed by the Lok Sabha and as reported by the Select Committee of Rajya Sabha, is to be taken up by the House next week, it said.

In the coming week in the Rajya Sabha, the Mental Health Care Bill 2013 and the Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws and Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Bill, 2016 will be taken up.

The upper House is also likely to take up among others the Central Agricultural University (Amendment) Bill, the Employee's Compensation (Amendment) Bill, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016; the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and the High Courts (Alteration of Names) Bill, 2016.

Time has also been allocated for members in the Rajya Sabha for consideration and return of the Appropriation Bill, 2016 relating to Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) for 2016-17 as passed by the Lok Sabha.

The government's floor managers say the monsoon session has been largely very productive as a number of legislative matters were disposed off besides holding debates on important matters like price rise.

Even during last week the Rajya Sabha passed five bills including Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Bill, Benami Transactions (Prohibition) (Amendment) Bill, 2016; Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2016, and National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

All these have already been passed by the Lok Sabha, which also passed the Enforcement of Security, Interest and Recovery of Debts, Loss and Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

It also debated and passed the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) 2016-17 and the relevant Appropriation Bill, 2016, besides holding discussions on Sustainable Development Goals and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.

--IANS

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