Govt warms up to Oppn, will discuss intolerance, GST

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 25

The BJP-led NDA Government and the multi-party Opposition today strapped up for the winter session of Parliament getting underway tomorrow. The ruling combine is hoping the fury of the past fades away while the opponents plan to put ‘Modi Sarkar’ on the mat.

The government’s expression of willingness at the all-party meet here to accommodate opposition came amid concerns mounting on the “growing climate of intolerance”. The ruling combine intent appears to firewall its ambitious legislative agenda that melts otherwise under political heat on the issue.

Attending the meet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought cooperation from parties across the political spectrum underscoring the priority of his government in getting parliamentary approval for the Goods and Service Tax Bill.

During his brief presence, PM Modi said the government's outreach on GST will be undertaken. A broad consensus for its passage appears to be a possibility, provided the opposition’s concerns find a reflection. 

“We have genuine concerns [on GST]... we are open for discussions,” Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha said.

Aware of the combative mood among the opposition parties on contentious issues, especially intolerance, the government grudgingly conceded it is ready for a debate, “even though it falls in the domain of states”.

The reiteration of the promises came after the NDA leaders met in the evening, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu stating the government will reach out to the Congress and others in the opposition on GST and other Bills. "We are ready for a debate on intolerance. The government has nothing to feel shy about it," he said.

Congress leaders Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge said the party would like to support each and every Bill on merit.

“Our concerns should be taken on board. For us, each legislation is important," they said.

The Congress and others parties in the opposition would start testing the waters during the two-day special session starting tomorrow when both the Houses will devote time to discuss "Commitment to India's Constitution", as part of the 125th birth anniversary of BR Ambekdar, whose resolution on the document was passed on November 26, 1949.

While the BJP and its allies would seek to point the number of times parties such as the Congress slighted the Constitution, the thrust of the opposition would be that commitment to the document is an everyday occurrence and not a stand-along event.

Hemmed by the inability to push through key economic legislations on account of stalemate in Parliament, at the all-party meeting here the government conveyed to opposition it is aware of their concerns and it neither supports nor condones incidents such as Dadri.