Ahmedabad: Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest Prakash Javadekar on Sunday alleged that the Congress is not allowing Parliament to function because it does not want the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill to be passed during this session.
Javadekar alleged during a press conference that the Congress is trying hard to block the nation's development by creating a logjam situation in Parliament.
"One of the main reason why the Congress does not allow Parliament to function because its leaders have decided to stall India's development. They are trying hard to ensure that the GST Bill is not passed this monsoon session," Javadekar alleged.
"If the Bill is not passed during the current session, it will be tabled in November. If that happens, we cannot implement it from April 1, 2016. If GST is implemented, we can attract more investment and our GDP will increase by two per cent," Javadekar said.
"Congress feels that if its happen, PM Narendra Modi's popularity will increase. That is why the Congress is creating hurdles in Parliament. This is the Bill which was introduced by them, but today, they don't want it to be cleared," Javadekar said.
The minister criticised Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi's recent remarks about Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
"This mother-son duo is calling her (Sushma Swaraj) a thief. They are asking her that how much money her husband and daughter made as lawyers. Such indecent remarks about a senior and transparent leader like Sushma are highly uncalled for," Javadekar said.
He said the government is trying hard to break the
logjam, but Congress leaders are not responding.
"When the government is reaching out, the Congress is backing out. It seems that they decided to stall Parliament and now they are searching for reasons to justify their act. Our PM is ready to answer them. We never said said he will not do so but, they should first let the Parliament function," Javadekar said.
The minister also defended Swaraj on the issue of Lalit Modi and cornered Congress instead.
"Swaraj never favoured Lalit Modi. If Congress feels that Lalit Modi is a criminal, then why did they issue only a blue corner notice and not a red corner notice against him when they were in power," Javadekar said.
"If Lalit Modi is the main issue, then we wish to know how much money Congress took to send him outside the country and not issue a red corner notice against him. Congress must answer this instead of merely resorting to allegations," Javadekar said.
"Three weeks of this monsoon session are already lost. From tomorrow, this session's last week will start and the government wants to end the impasse. I urge Congress MPs to let the Parliament function from Monday and not stall the nation's development," Javadekar said.
