GST Bill: World knows which party is running away from debate in Parliament, says PM Modi

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Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that it was sad that people were running away from the spirit of debate in Parliament.

In an interview to Times Now channel, PM Modi said, "Debate and discussion have to happen in Parliament. Saddest part is people running away from this spirit of debate. The duty of preserving this unique character of Parliament lies with every democracy loving citizen," and added, "We are ready to debate all issues."

On proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) he said that states like West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha all seek passage of the bill. "Not passing GST is injustice to the poor and some states in particular. Those in the Rajya Sabha should understand this," he said.

In an apparent dig at the Congress party, he said, "One party does have a problem and the world knows which party that is. They were in government for years, they can't do this. If a new party does this, maybe it is understandable."

"Now the kind of arithmetic which is working out, I hope that this decision is passed in favour of the poor," PM Modi further said.

Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said on June 22 that the long-pending GST bill would be taken up in the coming Monsoon Session of Parliament.

"Finance Minister (Arun Jaitley) has said that in the upcoming Monsoon Session we will bring the bill (in the Parliament) and we have full expectation that we will pass it," the Commerce and Industry Minister had told reporters.

She had added that Jaitley was very focussed on GST issue and is talking to every political party for support.

"He (Jaitley) has talked to all the Finance Ministers of the states at GST council meeting in Kolkata a week before," Sitharaman had said, as per PTI.

GST, which the government plans to roll out from April 1 next year, is to subsume central levies like excise duty and service tax as well as state levies of VAT/sales tax, entertainment tax, luxury tax, octroi, entry tax, purchase tax and state cess and surcharges.

Linked to the provision of taxing free supplies is the value to be attributed to such free goods/ service.

(With PTI inputs)