Winter Session: Govt to push for passage of GST Bill this week

The government business during the next week would include further consideration and passing of the GST Bill, which is officially mentioned as Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, 2014. (source: Reuters file photo)

The government has lined up substantial legislative business, including the Goods and Services Bill, for the next week though there are no signs of any let-up in Congress and BSP protests in the Rajya Sabha, where important legislations are struck. The two parties are demanding the ouster of Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh from the government over his alleged anti-Dalit remarks.

The government business during the next week would include further consideration and passing of the GST Bill, which is officially mentioned as Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, 2014. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha earlier, but while under consideration in the Rajya Sabha, the government agreed to refer it to a select committee of the House following a demand by the Opposition. The panel has since given its report.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh to solicit the support of the main opposition party. The matter has not been resolved between the two sides as of now.

The business lined up for the Lok Sabha includes consideration and passage of the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salary and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill 2015. The other Bills readied for the House are the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2015, the Indian Trusts (Amendment) Bill 2015, the Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Bill 2015, and the Industries (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill 2015.

As for the Rajya Sabha, the government plans taking up the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013, on which discussion has already begun, among others.