GST Bill's fate uncertain as penultimate week of winter session begins tomorrow

NEW DELH: The government and the opposition seem to be bracing for a battle of nerves over the GST and National Herald issues in both the Houses of Parliament from Monday when the penultimate week of the winter session begins.

The main opposition Congress has rejected the charge that it was blocking the GST Bill because of the court summons to party president Sonia Gandhi and her deputy Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, while BJP continues to insist there is a link between the two developments.

"I wish and pray that the GST (issue) is delinked (from the National Herald case)," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said when asked whether he sees any link between the two issues.

Former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, however, said the ruling party was making a "bizarre link" and insisted the Congress has raised "genuine concerns" on the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

He rued that the opposition party has not received the "revised formulation" of the government on the issue after the party conveyed its suggestions on the bill to it.

Jaitley, however, contested Chidambaram's remarks, saying the government had communicated its response to "responsible leaders" of that party. "I am not responsible for communication gap in that party," he said.

Jaitley said that the three suggestions that have come from Congres now were "contrary to" what Chidambaram and his predecessor in Finance Ministry Pranab Mukherjee had proposed.

At the same time, Jaitley said, even on those "there is some meeting ground", which the government has conveyed to Congress.

"These issues can be overcome provided there is willingness from Congress party to honestly support the GST," he said.

While Jaitley stoutly rejected suggestions that the government had any role in the National Herald issue, saying neither Enforcement Directorate (ED) nor Income Tax department had taken any punitive action so far, Chidambaram flagged the "suspicion". Jaitley also said the government was not a party to the dispute.

Chidambaram recalled that after BJP came to power, the ED conducted a preliminary enquiry and closed the matter, saying "no case" existed.

"The ED (director) was abruptly transferred and the case was re-opened. That answers the question why there is suspicion about the BJP's motive...It (the issue) came to Parliament because the BJP did not remain neutral on this...that triggers a suspicion," he said.

Meanwhile, Sonia Gandhi went into a huddle with senior party leaders at her 10, Janpath residence to chalk out the party's strategy. Among those present in the meeting were Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and party's deputy leader in the House Anand Sharma.