The Budget Session of Parliament today broke for a month-long recess, bringing to an end an unexpectedly productive session that saw as many as 10 and 11 bills being passed by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, respectively.
Both houses worked at more than 100 percent productivity.
This was despite the fact the session had begun on a pessimistic note, amid political bickering over the Kanhaiya Kumar, Rohith Vemula and later Ishrat Jahan cases, and in keeping with the Rajya Sabha's track record, which had been washed out over the past two (Monsoon and Winter) sessions.
Today, the Lok Sabha passed the Aadhaar Bill, as well as the MMDR Amendment Act. However, the decision by the government to pass the Aadhaar as a money bill was looked down upon by the Rajya Sabha, which suggested four changes to the bill, all of which were ignored by the Lok Sabha. (The Rajya Sabha cannot vote on money bills.)
The key GST Bill, however, still remains to be passed, even though the first half of the Budget session ignites hopes that the Bill may passed after the recess.
In an interview with CNBC-TV18, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra, Congress spokesperson Rajeev Gowda and veteran journalist Aditi Phadnis discussed the key takeaways from the session and outlined the path forward.
Rajeev Gowda
- The intention of the Congress and opposition in suggesting changes to Aadhaar bill was to send a signal that our job is to improve legislation and to ensure that a pathbreaking initiative like Aadhaar protects citizen's rights to privacy.
- The government's decision to introduce Aadhaar Bill as a money bill was a step to bypass the Rajya Sabha. It sends a wrong signal.
- The Congress has made three recommendations to the GST bills, two of which the CEA has agreed upon. But instead of discussing these, the BJP often indulges in provocation. If there is more coming together, the GST bill will hopefully be passed. We want a complete GST bill instead of the moth-eaten one proposed by Arun Jaitley.
Sambit Patra
- There is a provision in the Constitution that gives the government right to pass bills as money bills (which are bills dealing with the subject of government taxes, expenditure and revenues). Aadhaar fits the definition of a money bill as it will back the government's subsidy program, which is related to expenditure.
- We are hopeful of GST bill being passed post recess. The PM had invited Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for a chai pe charcha during the last session. The BJP wants to walk an extra mile towards the Congress in order to get the GST bill passed.
Aditi Phadnis
- The Congress does not have too much in principle opposition to GST bill and bankruptcy code.
- The Budget session started off a negative note but has since seen legislative business being carried out.
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