Ahead of monsoon session, govt reaches out to Cong over GST bill

Ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Narendra Modi government on Thursday reached out to the principal opposition party Congress over the contentious issue of Goods and Service Tax Bill.

Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu spoke to senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma. Both Congress leaders assured Naidu that they will get back to him soon after consultations within their party.

Congress has been pressing for a cap of 18 per cent as part of the Constitutional Amendment bill to which government is not agreeing.

Insiders say this very demand has become a sticking point between Congress and the government but Congress may relent on its rigid stand by agreeing to a cap in the statues and not as part of the Constitution bill.

The government plans to push the Constitution Amendment bill in the Rajya Sabha for roll-out of GST in the Monsoon session beginning July 18. The bill was approved by the Lok Sabha earlier.