Govt tries to get Cong GST backing

New Delhi: With just three days to go for the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the government on Friday intensified its efforts to bring the Opposition — mainly the Congress — on board to support the muchdelayed GST bill.

With just three days to go for the commencement of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament, the Government on Friday intensified its efforts to bring the Opposition — mainly the Congress — on board to support the much delayed GST bill.

Union ministers Arun Jaitley and Ananth Kumar met Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma to help break the impasse on the vexed legislation. The meeting, however, remain inconclusive.

During the meeting which lasted about 45 minutes, the two sides put forth their points of view and after discussing the issue with their respective parties, decided to meet again once the Monsoon Session starts on July 18.

Asked if the meeting was positive and if the issues have been resolved, both sides were non- committal and said only preliminary discussions were held today. They also did not comment on whether the bill will see its passage or not.

“We are trying to build consensus on GST. We have discussed all the points. Once the session starts, we will meet again after discussing the issue within our respective parties,” Mr Jaitley said after the meeting, which was held in Mr Azad’s room in Parliament.

Mr Azad, who is leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said this was a preliminary meeting where the two sides presented their points of view and will meet again after discussions with the respective leaderships of government and Congress.

“We had an in- depth discussion. We gave our point of view, they gave theirs. We put forth our apprehensions and suggestions. We will get back to our leadership and they will get back to their leadership and then we will meet again,” he said.

Mr Sharma said the two sides sensitised each other on their respective positions on the issue.