Oppn to approach President on taxation amendments

The Congress is rallying Opposition parties to approach President Pranab Mukherjee with plea not to give his assent to the Taxation Laws (second amendment) Bill passed by the Lok Sabha without any discussion on Tuesday.

Describing the passage of the Bill as a complete affront to Constitutional propriety, the Congress leaders said they would be meeting leaders of other Opposition parties on Wednesday to chart the next course of action.

Opposition members had submitted some amendments to the Bill, but Speaker Sumitra Mahajan refused permission to move the same ruling that they have not secured the mandatory recommendation from President Pranab Mukherjee.

 “In view of the urgency involved, we have to dispose of the Bill today (Tuesday) itself,” Mahajan said.

“It is a murder of democracy,” AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said as the Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha amid din and without any discussion.

“It is a travesty of the Constitution by the finance minister who claims to have intricate knowledge about law,” Congress' chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said.

Congress leader Sushmita Dev accused the government of trampling upon the Constitution and said that the entire Opposition would draft a joint strategy against the government. “This will go down as a black day in the history of Parliament,” CPM member Mohammad Salim said as the Speaker put the Bill to vote.

Congress sources said all the Opposition parties will approach the President as the Bill may not require passage from the Rajya Sabha as it would be listed as a Money Bill.