Those who lost polls are not allowing govt to work: Sinha

Hitting out at Opposition parties for blocking crucial economic legislations, Union Minister Jayant Sinha today said those who have lost elections are not allowing the government to work for the people.
Sinha, who is Minister of State for Finance, said the government wants to work with all the states and believes in "co-operative federalism".
"Parties that have lost the Lok Sabha elections are now blocking us in the Rajya Sabha and not enabling us to do the work of the people of India," Sinha said.
He was responding to a query on the next reform measures that would be taken up by the government.

The Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha, would be taken up in the next Parliament Session.
He said that "political obstructionism" was the reason for Insurance Bill not getting passed by the Rajya Sabha.

Citing the example of Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, Sinha said the government forged a consensus, which had been lacking for a long time, with states.
"We were able to forge that consensus because we have that spirit of co-operative federalism... As we form more governments (in states) that will get strengthened," he told reporters outside Parliament.
The constitutional amendment bill for GST would require two-thirds majority in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

"This is a Bill which I think any party should oppose because it is a Bill that benefits all of India. If any party opposes it, they will be sending a very wrong message to the people of India," the Minister said.
As far as GST is concerned, it is a very complicated legislative process and that is why "we need everybody at this stage to work together for the good of India," Sinha noted.
"That is why I appeal to all of our parties, who are in Opposition right now, to please work together to be able to do the work for the people of India," he added.

The much-awaited GST Bill, which provides for an overhaul of the taxation system, was introduced in the Lok Sabha last week.