Venkaiah: Confident of GST passage during Monsoon Session

In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Venkaiah Naidu, Former Parliamentary Affairs Ministers talked about the prospects for the GST Bill and where negotiations between the ruling BJP party and Congress have reached.

Below is the verbatim transcript of Venkaiah Naidu’s interview to Shereen Bhan on CNBC-TV18.

Q: What can we expect when Parliament’s monsoon session begins on Monday?

A: Public wants the Parliament to function. You can talk out or walk out, but you should not break out -- that is the impression of the people and as a government. And as a ruling party naturally, I seek their cooperation. I am not saying and insisting them that they should support me in whatever legislation I bring. I always say I propose, you oppose, let the house dispose – the majority. In democracy, the Parliament should be allowed to function. Fortunately I am happy the mood in the country, the mood among the political spectrum also is to have smooth functioning of the parliament.

I had some discussion with my friends in the opposition also, they were also receptive. This time I am confident Parliament will function and we will have the goods and services tax (GST), which is another important thing for the country, it will be approved in this session of Parliament. There will be some fireworks here and there, but fireworks will be like fireworks only.

Q: Since you talked about the GST let me ask you because there was a very crucial meeting today between the government as well as the Congress to try and break the GST deadlock. Have you been able to persuade them to come on to your side?

A: GST was originally introduced by the Congress government. It was first introduced by Pranab Mukherjee when he was Finance Minster. Later it was improved further by P Chidambaram, Finance Minister. Five finance ministers of different states headed empowerment committee on GST and they made thorough study of what is happening world over and they came to the conclusion that GST is the need of the hour.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the last one year has been holding discussion with different state governments and I as the Parliamentary Affairs Minister also have spoken to number of opposition umpteen number of times. At the end of the day, the mood is positive. Some time back the Congress has raised three issues. The honorable Prime Minister called Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh to his residence over a cup of tea, I was also there and Arun Jaitley was also there. We discussed and they raised three issues.

Two issues are addressed to their satisfaction. One issue is about putting a cap in the Constitution on which there is divergent opinion. However, I don’t want to say anything; I want results.

If I say something, tomorrow you (the media) will immediately go to Congress and say Venkaiah Naidu is saying that everything is okay, are you okay and then they say no. People may be interested in breaking the news but I am interested in making the news.

Q: Anand Sharma yesterday in an interview to me said that there is more convergence today between the Congress party and the government on the GST. Would that be a fair and accurate statement?

A: Yes, it is a fair statement. I also had interaction with Anand Sharma and also Ghulam Nabi Azad yesterday. The response is comparatively positive. I am sure whatever will happen to the headline but we will be able to meet the deadline.