House bypassed in tax move: CPM, Cong

THE CONGRESS and the CPM have accused the government of bypassing Parliament in announcing service tax will not be charged on digital transactions up to Rs 2,000. “They cannot do it. He [Prime Minister Narendra Modi] is institutionalising disrespect for Parliament which cannot be allowed,” Congress leader Anand Sharma said.

As soon as MOS for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal tabled the notification in Rajya Sabha, Congress MP Digvijaya Singh said Modi had announced the decision outside Parliament. “When the prime minister himself goes beyond a point and announces schemes when Parliament is in session, it is a gross violation of conduct,” he said.

CPM MP Sitaram Yechury told reporters, “It is a clear violation of parliamentary norms and procedures... No tax proposal can be made anywhere but in Parliament... In this case, the Consolidated Fund will receive less on account of the service tax waiver because of the PM’S approval. This cannot be done.”

The CPM'S Mohd Salim said “never in history has any government been so fast that a notification is tabled in Parliament on the same day it has been gazetted."

Meghwal also tabled a notification reducing import duty on wheat from 10 per cent to nil. Digvijaya Singh called the decision antifarmer and a big conspiracy, while JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said, “This will destroy those sowing wheat in India.”

Yechury said he has renewed a contempt notice against the PM for making policy statements outside Parliament and “running away” from a debate. “A meeting of the privileges committee has been called tomorrow.”