New Delhi:
With disruptions delaying important legislation in the Parliament, the all-party meeting called by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari this afternoon to address the problem failed to discuss the passage of the Goods and Services Tax Bill.
Sources told NDTV that in the remaining three days of the winter session, which ends on December 23, the government and the opposition agreed to pass a number of bills including the SC and ST bill and the appropriation bills but not the Constitutional amendment bill for the GST. The meeting today did not discuss the GST bill, sources added.
The GST bill, which has already been passed by the Lok Sabha, must be passed by the Rajya Sabha by December 23 and then sent to the states for the GST regime to be rolled out by April 1.
Mr Ansari's decision followed a 10-minute meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday.
On Thursday, after repeated disruptions, Mr Ansari threw up his hands and said, "Why can't you allow questions? How can you deny other members the privilege of asking questions?"
In his meeting with Mr Ansari yesterday, PM Modi reportedly hinted that that he should act tough against those disrupt the house.
The PM's meeting with Mr Ansari came after a heated exchange between Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien and Trinamool Congress member Sukhendu Sekhar Roy.
Sources in the Vice President's office say this is not the first time that he has sought more powers to act against members. In 2010, the BJP and other parties had strongly opposed it.
The winter session will end on Wednesday, and while the Goods and Services Tax or GST bill is the government's big worry, it is also concerned about legislation like the Appropriation Bill, which needs to be passed to enable salaries and funding for projects. The government needs the opposition's support to clear bills in the Rajya Sabha, where it is in a minority.