Congress responsible if legislation on GST gets delayed: Arun Jaitley

In an interview with ET Now, Arun Jaitley, Union Finance Minister, shares his views on the present stand-off in Parliament.

Arun Jaitley: I am glad when the Congress party stood up to disturb Mr. Rajnath Singh, not a single member of any other party joined them. It was only Congress party. No non-Congress man was there in the well of house.

ET Now: So, you are saying the Congress is isolated in Parliament?

Arun Jaitley: Well, it is getting more and more isolated. On GST, certainly I can see the isolation. I am sure on this issue. They will probably get themselves isolated, but what is more important, they should get isolated from the people.

ET Now: How does this impact the business that the government wants to conduct in the house? Especially the passage of the bills; the GST bill which is extremely crucial in this session?

Arun Jaitley: If the GST bill gets delayed in this session and its legislation gets delayed, the responsibility will be squarely on the Congress party. India will suffer because it has a party which is refusing to advise itself adequately.

ET Now: But you will not give in as the government on any of the demands of the Congress, and you are ready to pay a price even if it means the washout of the monsoon session?

Arun Jaitley: That is for the Congress party to decide. We are willing for a discussion, the discussion will throw up the fact whether anybody has done anything improper. They are not willing to take the offer for a discussion. We are willing that the discussion can start with Ms. Swaraj making a statement, and they are seeking clarifications from her.

ET Now: And what about their demand for the Prime Minister to make a statement? Is the government ready for that?

Arun Jaitley: According to me, we have to meet them to make this offer. This offer cannot come to us through the media. When we invite them for a dialogue, they refuse to come.

ET Now: So you are saying it is not something that you would rule out at this stage?

Arun Jaitley: You see, Parliament is a political institution. Political options are possible, but for that, some attitude of reasonableness has to be there. If you say I will disturb Indian democracy come what may, well then democracy will suffer the consequences of such an opposition.

ET Now: You have seen several Parliaments in the past. What is your experience telling you? Will you see a breakthrough or will this session be a washout?

Arun Jaitley: India’s democracy is mature. The popular opinion's pressure on parliamentarians to put their house in order is also very large. I am sure it has to take place.