Pro-Mass News Bureau: Dec 14, 2015:
No consensus emerged in the meeting between the main opposition Congress and the government on Goods and Services Tax bill today. Congress leader Anand Sharma said the government and Congress will have another round of consultations.
Briefing media in New Delhi this evening Mr Sharma said Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge was not present therefore it was decided to meet again. Mr. Sharma also said engagement between Government and Opposition cannot be restricted to one single issue. He criticised that the Government is keen to discuss only Goods and Services Tax bill. Mr Shrama said the government should also think over other key bills pending in the two Houses.
The government earlier today held a meeting with the main opposition to build consensus on Goods and Services Tax Bill. It was attended by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj whereas Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma and Jyotiraditya Scindia were present from the Congress side.
The Bill has already been cleared by the Lok Sabha. Congress has been demanding GST rate at 18 per cent for bulk of goods and services and scrapping of one per cent inter-state tax.
