Cong wants Gadkari to quit before RS takes up GST Bill

Modi government’s aggressive push for the passage of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill appears to have hit a roadblock in the Rajya Sabha.

The Congress party on Friday gave clear indications that it would not allow the Upper House to function till the government sacks Union minister Nitin Gadkari in the wake of CAG strictures against a firm run by his family members.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi recalled that the BJP had not allowed Parliament to function for three month when a “leaked” CAG report had pointed out irregularities in the 2G spectrum allocation.

Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad also said that the Congress would continue with its demand for referring the GST Bill to a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha for scrutiny.

On Friday, the Congress forced repeated adjournments in the Rajya Sabha and demanded the resignation of Gadkari.

“This is not a question of allegation against an individual MP or minister. This is a CAG report. This is a CAG report against a company he was heading. Having been indicted he cannot continue as a minister,” said Azad in the Rajya Sabha.

“It is Gadkari or the Bills,” a senior Congress leader said minutes after the Opposition forced adjournment in the Rajya Sabha when the business of private members was to be taken up.

At the AICC briefing, Singhvi said that the BJP was quick to demand the resignation of the then telecom minister A Raja soon after the CAG report on the 2G spectrum allocation was presented before Parliament.

“The BJP is struck with amnesia. Now, the BJP is claiming the CAG report cannot be discussed in the House and that the Opposition demand was not proper,” he said.
The government had ensured the passage of the GST Bill in the Lok Sabha after winning over the Trinamool Congress and a few other smaller parties.

The Congress had staged a walkout from the Lower House.

Two-thirds’ support
Being a Constitutional Amendment Bill, the GST Bill requires support of two-thirds members of the House.

Only a walkout by the Congress and BJP’s ability to win over support from larger groups in the Upper House such as SP, BSP would help the NDA pass the Bill.
However, as of Friday the Congress did not appear in any mood to bail out the government.