Govt decision on Parliament session likely this week: Venkaiah Naidu

The government will take a final decision this week on convening of an extended session of Parliament to get the GST Bill passed, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu indicated today.

The government is keen to go in for extended session but the decision would be taken after completing consultation with the opposition, he said.

"I have already consulted the important leaders of different parties. In a day or two, we will be completing discussion with others also. At the end of it, we will take a final call on the extended session of Parliament," Naidu told reporters here on the sidelines of an event.

Observing that GST is needed for strengthening the country's economy, he appealed to Congress and other opposition parties to cooperate in the passage of the bill.

"We want to call extended session of Parliament, if the opposition is willing to cooperate. Because, need of the hour is passage of the GST bill. GST bill is the need of hour in view of the global financial crisis that is developing. India has to take extra steps to strengthen the economy. One such step is the GST bill which has been pending for eight years," Naidu said.

Maintaining that all the concerns with regard to GST bill have been addressed, Naidu said the opposition can raise objections, if any, on the floor of Parliament but the House should be allowed to function.

"Earlier, there were many apprehensions. Five ministers of different states have presided over the sub-committee meetings. They have worked very hard and they have addressed the concerns of almost all the stakeholders and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also had consultations with all the states. Now there is no reason for anybody to oppose this bill," he said.

"So I appeal to the Congress party and also other parties, please cooperate in proper conduct of Parliament. If you have some objections, you can raise them in Parliament. If you want to vote against any proposition, you have that power also. At the same time, Parliament should be allowed to take up this bill, which is the need of the hour," Naidu said.