Govt hopes to retain House momentum

IN PARLIAMENT Fireworks expected as BJP MPs decide to confront Congress’ Azad on his comments against RSS

NEW DELHI: The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance ( NDA) is looking at cashing in on the gains of a productive week of Parliament’s budget session by providing a big push for the passage of key bills, including the whistleblower and enemy proper ty bills, during the remaining three days of the first half of the ongoing budget session.

The last part of the session’s first half is also likely to have its share of political fireworks, with BJP MPs planning to demand an apology from senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad for his controversial remarks on the RSS.

Azad had allegedly compared the RSS with the terrorist organisation Islamic State.

“Our MPs will raise the issue as his comments are unacceptable”, a senior BJP leader said.

Speaking at Jammu, Union minister Jitendra Singh hit out against Azad, saying the Congress leaders were suffering from a “RSS phobia”, as the party was fast losing ground.

“RSS is a nationalist organisation; it is not a terrorist organisation. But whenever Congress leaders find the ground slipping beneath their feet, they are haunted by the RSS phobia ,” the Union minister of state in the Prime Minister’s Office, said.

The session be g an on a stormy note last month, but important business was transacted in the third week, including the passage of the Aadhar bill and Real Estate (Regulation and Development) bill.

For its part, the government will attempt to ensure the passage of the Real Estate bill by the Lok Sabha and the Aadhar bill by the Rajya Sabha.

Meanwhile, Union finance minister Aru nJ a it ley is hopeful that the landmark Constitution Amendment Bill for a national Goods and Services Tax ( GST) as well as the Bankruptcy and insolvency bill will get passed when parliament resumes for the budget session’s second half on April 20.

Passed by the Lok Sabha, the GST bill is pending ratification by the Upper House, where the ruling NDA does not have a majority.

After possible approval by the Rajya Sabha, the legislation needs to be ratified by half of the 29 states before the measure can be rolled out, possibly by October 1 this year.

“The cur rent session of Parliament has already seen one landmark legislation two days ago. And I do hope to see another two being passed in the second part of the session with regard to the, bankruptcy and insolvency laws and GST,” the Union finance minister said at a conference.

THE SESSION BEGAN ON A STORMY NOTE LAST MONTH, BUT IMPORTANT BUSINESS WAS TRANSACTED IN THE THIRD WEEK, INCLUDING THE PASSAGE OF THE AADHAR BILL AND REAL ESTATE (REGULATION AND DEVELOPMENT) BILL.