The government’s hopes of getting the much-awaited GST bill passed in the Rajya Sabha this session were dashed by slogan-shouting Congress members who, following a script so familiar in the monsoon session, ensured that the House was adjourned Tuesday without discussion on the subject. As soon as deputy chairperson P J Kurien asked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to move the motion for a discussion on the Constitution’s 122nd amendment bill that aims to bring in a uniform GST across the country, Congress members rushed to the well, shouting slogans just like they have been doing throughout the monsoon session during which no meaningful business has been conducted in either House. Kurien said he could not conduct business and adjourned the House until Wednesday. WATCH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt-3gQdswDs&feature=youtu.be Jaitley hit out at the Congress, saying it was blocking the economic progress of the country, and that its protest — it has been demanding the resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj over the Lalit Modi controversy — was only a pretext to conceal its opposition to the GST bill. “The real purpose is that they want to stall the economic progress of the country. The issue relating to the external affairs minister is merely a pretext. The real reason is that they don’t want the Indian economy to grow and that is why session after session, they have been looking for one pretext or the other to make sure that the GST legislation which will give a boost to India’s GDP and economy, is not passed,” Jaitley said amidst the ruckus. “If the Congress party wants the economy of the country to slow down, when every other political party is in support of it, they must candidly say so. They don’t need any pretext in order to say this,” he said. [related-post] Speaking to reporters outside the House, Jaitley said the Congress stands isolated with almost no political group supporting its disruption programme. “It is clear that its two leaders have taken their 2014 defeat very badly. And, therefore, they are unable to accept the fact that anybody outside the Gandhi family can also rule this country,” he said, without naming Sonia or Rahul. “Unfortunately the Congress is in a self-destruct mode. We do not grudge that. But in the process, it wants not only to disrupt Parliament but also create obstacles in the path of national growth,” he said. The GST bill has been passed by the Lok Sabha but was referred to a select committee when it was introduced in Rajya Sabha. An amended bill, incorporating the recommendations made by the select committee, was to be taken up for discussion Tuesday, in the hope of getting it passed by Wednesday.
