Monsoon session ends without GST bill being passed
MPs of the ruling BJP and its allies will take out what they call a "Save Democracy" march against opposition protests that have led to a total washout of the session.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will also meet to discuss the way forward on the GST Bill and other pending legislation.
A cabinet panel met in the morning but did not announce any decision on calling a special session of Parliament to push for the GST proposal for creation of a national sales tax replacing a matrix of levies in the 29 states.
On Wednesday in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj responded to the Congress' allegations that her move to help Lalit Modi get urgent travel documents in Britain last year was a "crime."
Turning her defence into a fierce offence against the Congress, Sushma Swaraj invoked the Bofors scandal that erupted when a Congress government led by Sonia Gandhi's husband Rajiv Gandhi was in power in the 1980s when allegations of kickbacks from the swedish gun maker were raised against him.
The External Affairs Minister also raised allegations that Rajiv Gandhi had helped 1984 Bhopal gas leak accused Warren Anderson, the chief of Union Carbide, leave the country without facing charges, as part of a quid pro quo.
"I did nothing clandestine," the minister declared. "Not a single penny was paid to my daughter for this case," she said, referring to Lalit Modi's successful legal battle to have his Indian passport reinstated last year.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi later hit back Swaraj saying, "I ask Sushma Swaraj how much money you got for rescuing Lalit Modi. You must be the only person in the world to help a person on humanitarian grounds in secret."
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said there was no question of Sushma Swaraj resigning. The Congress walked out in protest, saying they would not accept anything but the Prime Minister's response in the house.
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