With only 143 sittings to go before Parliament's Winter Session ends, the government has listed the flagship Goods and Services Tax bill for discussion in Rajya Sabha with the agreement of the Congress.
Four hours have been allotted for the discussion, although the date is yet to be fixed.
The Congress, which had been demanding action against Union minister General VK Singh for his "dog" remark, says it wants "bills to be passed". The party's support is essential for the passage of the bill which requires a constitutional amendment.
"We are not diluting our stand on General VK Singh, but we want bills to be passed," said Anand Sharma, deputy leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha.
Only two bills have been passed in Lok Sabha since November 26 -- when the winter session started.
The government, which plans to pass 22 bills in the winter session, has also made some concession for its flagship tax reform bill by agreeing to tweak it to Congress demands.
Sources in the party say its stand on the bill will eventually depend on party vice president Rahul Gandhi, who may not wish to make it easy for the government.
Party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Congress has put forward three "concrete" points for consideration of the government but it is yet to get a reply. "The ball is in their court. The government has to take a call and revert to opposition parties as to how the GST Bill does not become a kill-GST Bill but rather remains an effective GST Bill," he added.
But with most of the opposition parties supporting the bill -- the Janata Dal United, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Nationalist Congress Party -- the Congress may find itself isolated.
"We support the bill but the Congress, it seems, remains divided," said Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav.
"We have given some points in our dissent note. If the government takes care of them, we don't oppose the bill," said Left Front's Mohammad Salim.
Four hours have been allotted for the discussion, although the date is yet to be fixed.
The Congress, which had been demanding action against Union minister General VK Singh for his "dog" remark, says it wants "bills to be passed". The party's support is essential for the passage of the bill which requires a constitutional amendment.
Only two bills have been passed in Lok Sabha since November 26 -- when the winter session started.
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Sources in the party say its stand on the bill will eventually depend on party vice president Rahul Gandhi, who may not wish to make it easy for the government.
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But with most of the opposition parties supporting the bill -- the Janata Dal United, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Nationalist Congress Party -- the Congress may find itself isolated.
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"We have given some points in our dissent note. If the government takes care of them, we don't oppose the bill," said Left Front's Mohammad Salim.
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