GST Debate: All-party panel prepares pitch

NEW DELHI: An all-party committee of the Rajya Sabha on Monday allotted five hours for debate on the crucial constitution amendment legislation to provide for the goods and services tax ( GST), but the government indicated that it would happen only after consultations with all political parties.

The Rajya Sabha Business Advisory Committee (BAC), an allparty institutional mechanism that brings a consensus among political parties regarding the business that could be taken up for consideration, met during the lunch break on the first day of monsoon session and agreed to allocate five hours.

Post lunch, deputy chairman PJ Kurien announced allocating five hours to the Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, 2014, returned by the select committee last July.

However, there appeared no clarity about the time when the legislation could be taken up for consideration as official sources indicated that the government would “take some time” towards consultation with all political parties for the way forward.

Parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar suggested that government will engage all political parties as promised during an all-party meeting on Sunday and expressed hope to build a consensus for the GST bill.

“There is a positive mood atmosphere on the GST. Lot of consultation were needed for GST bill. We are talking to the main opposition as well as to other parties. Meetings will continue.”

The Lok Sabha had in May last year passed the Constitution amendment bill to provide for GST.