<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/53279979.cms" /> 
The chances of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/GST-vs-IT-Act/articleshow/52969390.cms">GST bill</a> finally getting passed seem to have increased with the leading and opposition parties getting ready to engage in further consultations over the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/All-online-purchases-to-attract-GST-soon-Amit-Mitra-panel/articleshow/52750627.cms">long pending bill</a>. 
 
As per reports, the parliamentary affairs ministry has planned a five-hour debate in Rajya Sabha, the date of which is not confirmed yet, which could lead to both parties agreeing to a common ground for the passage of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Indian-online-marketplaces-are-closely-monitoring-the-GST-bill-as-costs-may-rise-up/articleshow/52775995.cms">tax reform</a>. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/GST-bill-Monsoon-Session-2016/articleshow/52971760.cms">Govt hopes on passage of GST bill as Monsoon Session will begin from July 18</a> 
 
It was only after BJP expressed its hope for an agreement after lessening the differences it has with Congress that the BJP parliamentary party executive was asked to make efforts to reach out to other parties as well. 
 
A few days back, Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal had complained that the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Nothing-is-going-to-come-for-free-after-GST-is-implemented-Heres-why/articleshow/52775662.cms">GST bill</a> seemed to be like a bilateral affair between the two parties, and warned that even his party could have some issues with the legislation, stalling it. CPM leader Sitaram Yechury had also asked for more consultations over the bill. 
 
<a href="http://www.newsx.com/sites/default/files/field/image/sonia-modi_0.jpg">Image source</a>

A five-hour debate in Rajya Sabha could pave the road for GST clearance

New Delhi, Apr 16 () CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Thursday suggested nine measures, including rapidly increasing testing and procuring PPEs, to the government to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Yechury said while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the people to follow his 'saptapadi' (seven points), the central government must implement the party's 'navapadi' (nine points) on a war footing. "Procure and provide required PPEs, rapidly increase testing, and transfer Rs 7,500 immediately to all non income tax paying people. Distribute free food grains to the needy, raise the financial stimulus package from the current 0.8 per cent to at least five percent of the GDP and support state governments with liberal funding," he said. Yechury asked the government to procure harvested crops at the declared C2+50 percent support price and pay wages to all registered under MGNREGA, irrespective of work. "Financially assist employers to protect workers from job losses and wage cuts. Arrange for the return of migrant workers to their homes," he said. The CPI(M)'s mouthpiece 'People's Democracy' claimed that all the state governments are handicapped in this battle to fight coronavirus as they face severe shortage of funds. "The niggardly package of Rs1.7 lakh crore announced by the Centre at the start of the lockdown did not actually provide any additional funds to the states," it said. "More than half of this amount was already provided for in the budget such as Rs 2000 installment to farmers under the PM Kisan Yojana. The states have so far got only what was due to them under the National Health Mission and part arrears of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation," the party's mouthpiece said. It also claimed that continuous centralisation of power and resources have taken away whatever fiscal powers and resources the states had. "The country has entered a crucial time in the fight against the coronavirus epidemic. Unless the states are equipped both financially and materially with the wherewithal to organise the fight back, we will have to pay a heavy price both in terms of human and economic losses," it said. "The Modi government should realise that the success it hopes to register in tackling COVID-19 can be realised only if it engages the states in a full and cooperative partnership," the mouthpiece added. ASG SNESNE

Yechury suggests nine measures to govt to contain COVID-19

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/57986705.cms" /> 
 
 <keyword id="6359833" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Goods-and-Services-Tax">Goods and Services Tax</keyword> (GST) is the biggest tax reform introduced in India since independence, and is certainly a game changer. However, the process undertaken by the government to implement GST was no less than a game changer itself. 
 
Several aspects had to be taken care of, and the most important part of the whole process was to stay focused on the bigger picture, not bowing down to the political and administrative negotiations that came with it. 
 
It was <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/topic/Narendra-Modi">PM Narendra Modi </a>who was the leader of the process, along with finance minister <keyword id="42575" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arun-Jaitley">Arun Jaitley</keyword>, who served as the bridge between him and the stakeholders. 
 
How often does it happen that the key members of the leading party of world’s biggest democracy meet up with the opposition leaders and that too a month after losing elections in a key state. However, it was the commitment that BJP had for GST that made him, along with Jaitley and parliamentary affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu had a meeting with former PM Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, a month after BJP lost Bihar elections. 
 
The PM, sources say, said that India needed GST and then the FM took over, explaining to the opposition why their positions, like capping tax rate at 18% in the GST statute, had to be reconsidered. He added that while a poor GST was not an option, their other demands will be duly considered. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/removal-of-cesses-for-gst-would-cost-government-rs-65000-crore/articleshow/57793686.cms">Removal of cesses for GST would cost government Rs 65,000 crore</a> 
 Ever since then, the <keyword id="117924" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="GST-Rollout">GST rollout</keyword> became a big puzzle with several tangled knots, which could be and was solved keeping in mind one thing, that GST was too big a reform to fail. The idea was to unite the country in a fundamental way, and before a deadline but only after clearing every doubt that anyone had. 
 
As per officials that <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/how-modi-government-managed-to-solve-the-gst-puzzle/articleshow/57980627.cms">ET </a>contacted, Modi referred to GST as more than a tax reform at Cabinet meetings, exemplifying India's "unity in diversity," asking his team to prioritise GST. The FM, very smartly negotiated the terms so that political rivalries didn’t hinder the implementation process. 
 
In total, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/gst-council-clears-almost-allrules-except-for-remaining-four/articleshow/57959857.cms">GST council </a>had 12 meetings; however, from the second meeting itself, there were signs of political bitterness raising its head, which is why the government decided to seek consensus and encourage everyone to offer solutions. 
 
While taking care of the taxation, the government had to get into intense detailing with the tax administration, which is when it demonstrated that it had no intention of cornering states. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/markets/economy/gst-to-keep-an-eye-on-your-perks-outside-ctc/articleshow/57889157.cms">GST to keep an eye on your perks outside CTC</a> 
 
In the whole process, the leading party is said to have never shied away from reaching out to rivals, just so the GST could be passed without fail. It involved reaching out to CPM's Sitaram Yechury, SP's Ram Gopal Yadav, TMC's Derek O'Brien, BJD's Dilip Turkey, NCP's Praful Patel, and several other point-persons from <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/politics/delay-in-implementing-gst-during-nda-government-led-to-rs-12-lakh-crore-loss-says-congress-party/articleshow/57892537.cms">Congress party</a>. 
 
The PM had a message for his team working on GST, which was to work at top speed without compromising with the quality. The team included hundreds of officials spread in small groups, solving difficult questions of both producing and consuming states and working for a period of more than eight months, including holidays and weekends. 
 
"It took us several months and many informal discussions to reach a consensus on how the final draft should look like," said a top official. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/no-gst-for-education-and-healthcare-this-year/articleshow/57972964.cms">No GST for education and health care this year</a> 
 
The work of these teams should be credited for the fact that the GST framework is ready three months before the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/markets/economy/eyeing-july-1-rollout-arun-jaitley-introduces-four-bills-on-gst-in-parliament/articleshow/57851897.cms">July 1 deadline</a>. 
 
(Image source GST Taxation)

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A five-hour debate in Rajya Sabha could pave the road for GST clearance

BI India Bureau

Yechury suggests nine measures to govt to contain COVID-19

PTI

Here’s how difficult the GST process was for the Modi government

BI India Bureau