Govt to move 4-5 key amendments in GST Bill: Sources

He added that Arun Jaitley may pass another amendment today, after which the opposition is ready to discuss and pass this Constitutional Amendment tomorrow in Rajya Sabha.MoS for Finance, Santosh Gangwar told CNBC-TV18's Ritupurna Bhuyan that this has been pending for quite some time, there should not be any trouble and this bill should be passed.Below is the verbatim transcript of Derek O'Brien’s interview to Shereen Bhan on CNBC-TV18.Q: We understand that crucial amendments will be moved by the government when it tables the bill on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) constitutional bill tomorrow. Can you start by taking us through clause 19 which ensures compensation for states?A: Yes, we have just received this. In fact clause 1, clause 9, clause 18, moved by the Finance Minister I don't think we have any issues on that. Clause 1, 9, 18.On clause 19, yes it was broadly agreed that the word parliament may, by law, will be changed to parliament shall, that part has been done. But the second part which says that the states will be compensated up to a period of five years, the general agreement was that it wouldn't be up to a period, this would be for a period of five years. My understanding is that between the meeting last night this is a drafting issue and I am very confident that since the Finance Minister Mr Jaitley has already agreed broadly with the empowered committee of ministers that this also would be done. Because the sense is that the states will not be compensated up to five years, but will be compensated for five years.So, if that is in maybe the Finance Minister will move another amendment today and then we are all set for tomorrow to discuss this and pass this constitutional amendment bill. In fact, I also want to share with you that my party has issued a whip to have our members there to be present for voting.Q: So, you expect another amendment to clause 19 to say that states will be compensated for a period of five years and not up to period of five years which is the current GST constitutional amendment draft? I also want to just go over for the benefit of our viewers some of the other key amendments. You talked about clause 1, you also talked about clause 9, can you take us through what those amendments are?A: The first clause is just a numbering, that is not a big deal. That is just a number and clause number 9 is the important one. Clause 9, on page 3 after line 23 -- these ones refer to the money being transferred to the consolidated funds of India. What will be kept for the states and what will be kept for the centre. Here again there is broad agreement and between what will be with the states and what will be with the centre. So, the money which is going into the consolidated fund of India deals under clause 9 that part has been taken care of and there are five amendments there, which the Finance Minister has moved and I would believe that no one should have any problems with these five amendments.There is a clause 18, there is line 7 to 31 are being deleted. I don't think anyone has any problem with that. So, now the only thing left - it is not little, but quite important - that is clause 19. I am hoping and expecting that the Finance Minister will make this amendment today so this bill can come tomorrow.This is only the constitutional amendment bill. Then there is the other bill. On that bill there are some issues about Rs 1.5 crore and all that but that will come later after this bill goes to the state legislatives for ratification, it will come back, we will deal with that in winter.Q: Yes, that we understand that that is to do with GST law and that will be dealt in the winter session. But we were given to understand that there was a resolution adopted by the state finance ministers on the guiding principles for the rate. Has that found any mention, even the GST constitutional amendment bill. Is there any reference to that at all?A: I don't know if that is there. I am only referring to this document, which has been received by the 230 odd Rajya Sabha MPs. I am only talking to you from that document because I cannot speak to you as a member of the select committee, I am not authorised to do that.