New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said that government was in discussions with Congress for its support on passage of the constitution amendment bill on Goods and Services Tax (GST) but was "not getting any positive signals".
He said it was distressing that the Congress party was using its numbers in Rajya Sabha to stall the House and the law and should ask itself a question whether it had deserved to rule the country.
"They (Congress) should not try to stop the GST bill. Our efforts to get it approved by Parliament will continue", Jaitley said yesterday, adding the government was ready with the three support legislations to ensure the roll out of the new indirect tax regime from April 1, 2016.
"We are talking to them (Congress) but we are not getting any positive signals from whoever we are talking...I will request Congress to adopt a positive attitude," he said CNBC Awaaz channel.
He said as a political party the Congress could not pursue the philosophy of negativism if it wants to ever rule the country.
The government is contemplating a special session of Parliament for passage of the GST Bill, which has been touted as the biggest reform of indirect taxes since Independence.
Jaitley said that although the majority of members in the Rajya Sabha supported the GST bill, the Congress was trying to stop it by not allowing the house to function.
Since it is a constitution amendment bill, it has to be voted and could not be approved by just voice vote, Jaitley said.
"Two-third members (in Rajya Sabha) are in favour of GST, but Congress is not allowing the House to function. Congress' trump card is not to let the House function. Congress should not use the trump card to stop the country's progress," he added.
