GST Bill: Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu may hold discussions with Congress next week

NEW DELHI: Government kept hopes of passage of the GST bill alive with finance minister Arun Jaitley stating that there was some "meeting ground" with the Congress on the issues flagged by the main opposition and indications from the top echelons of the NDA dispensation that two sides were likely to hold discussions sometime next week.

Though Congress continued to disrupt the Rajya Sabha on Friday too, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad underlined in the House that his party was not protesting on the National Herald issue. "Stalling of Parliament is not related to the National Herald case in court. This is the impression created (in the media)" Azad said, adding that the proceedings were stalled for two days on the 'dog remarks' of Union Minister VK Singh. "The proceedings were stalled later for three days and the reasons are different," he said. Government sources maintained that Congress not stalling the House on the National Herald issue is an indication of a thaw and all efforts were being made to have a dialogue with the Congress on the GST bill.

"At least one meeting between senior Union ministers and top leaders of the Congress is likely sometime next week. No date has been fixed yet," a Union minister said.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley and parliamentary affairs minister M Venkaiah Naidu may hold discussions with senior Congress leaders, sources said. Jaitley sounded positive on Friday as he said there is some "meeting ground" and issues raised by Congress on the GST bill can be easily addressed provided there is willingness on part of the party.