Govt moves GST bill in RS, Cong blocks discussion

Government today moved for consideration of Rajya Sabha the Constitution amendment bill for introduction of GST but a debate on it was blocked by a vociferous Congress which raised procedural issues.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who moved the much-delayed bill, slammed the Congress, saying the party was raising various issues just to stall the country's growth.

Amid slogan-shouting by Congress members, he said the Congress was using Lalit Modi issue against External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj as a "pretext" to stall the important tax legislation.

Earlier, Congress leader Anand Sharma said a discussion on the GST bill cannot be taken up as it was not discussed in the Business Advisory Committee and no time had been allocated for it. He objected to the bill being listed in the business without the consent of members.

When Jaitley got up to move the bill for consideration, Congress members, who were silent till then, rushed into the Well, shouting against the government move.

"The real purpose is that they want to stall to stall the growth of the country and that is why session after session, they are using one pretext or the other to stall it. That is why they are using the pretext of External Affairs Minister.

"The Congress party does not want the economy to grow. They must candidly say so...They don't need any pretext," he said.
 Amid stormy scenes and vociferous slogan shouting by Congress members, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said, "This being a Constitution amendment bill, I cannot take up the bill in pandemonium". He then adjourned the House for the day.

A Constitution amendment requires Division of votes for which every member has to be in his or her seat.