New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed his gratitude to 53 lawmakers retiring from the Rajya Sabha between June and July this year for working under two different governments – the United Progressive Alliance led by Congress till 2014 and the National Democratic Alliance led by the BJP. However, his farewell speech to the retiring MPs also had a pinch of salt.
In his farewell address, the Prime Minister dubbed the failure of the House to pass the Goods and Services Tax Bill during the tenure of the retiring MPs as unfortunate as doing so would have benefitted states that they represent in the Upper House.
The Rajya Sabha today bid farewell to 53 Members of the Upper House from 14 states, who are retiring between June and July this year, of which 16 are from the main opposition Congress. The Constitutional Amendment Bill to roll out the GST is currently stuck in the Rajya Sabha due to stiff opposition from the Congress, which is demanding the inclusion of a provision to cap the maximum rate at 18 per cent.
“I wish the GST had passed during your tenure in Rajya Sabha as it would have immensely benefited people of states you represent. It would have helped states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar,” he said.
“You didn’t get the chance. But I’m sure all those of you who’ll come back will get this opportunity,” he added.
He also rued the stalemate regarding the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill 2016, which, Modi said, would have benefitted states to the tune of Rs 42,000 crore. The bill intended to allocate funds under the public accounts of the Centre as well as the states for compensatory afforestation. The legislation, passed by the Lok Sabha, envisages strengthening the Green India programme, wild life protection and other related activities.
"States would have got Rs 42,000 crore if we had decided on the legislation. Each state would have got Rs 2000-3000 crore. This (Rs 2000-3000 crore) is not a small amount. Availability of the funds before the beginning of the monsoon season would have greatly benefited the states. We will have to wait for 4-5 months now,” he said.
