New Delhi, August 12

A determined Congress stalled the government’s attempt to initiate discussion on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill in the Rajya Sabha on a day Opposition leaders took on the BJP-led NDA for “using” industrialists and corporate heads to attack them for Parliament disruptions.

Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien’s reminder that the Constitution Amendment Bill for GST was Congress' "baby" and that the protests were “undemocratic” failed to make headway. As Finance Minister Arun Jaitley moved the GST Bill for discussion, a vociferous Congress ensured the adjournment of the Rajya Sabha which, due to paucity of the BJP-led NDA’s numbers, has borne the brunt of the agitations against "Lalitgate" and Vyapam scam this monsoon session that ends tomorrow.

The BJP’s attempts to corner the Congress by holding it responsible for stalling the GST Bill and harming the country’s economy has failed to affect prevailing sentiments in the lead Opposition party. In fact, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav and CPM’s Sitaram Yechury have accused the government of “using” media and business leaders to attack the Opposition for the disruptions in Parliament.

Yadav strongly objected to India Inc asking all political parties to end the logjam, saying that after 68 years of Independence, “capitalists” were telling leaders to let Parliament function. "They must know that 125 crore Indians have chosen Parliament and they want to run it," he said.

Azad supported him saying: “We discuss the comments being made about MPs every day. Now, industrialists are saying that the House should function. The government is using media against the Opposition”.

Jaitley responded by questioning whether the common man wanted Parliament not to function. In what is being called the first-of-its-kind initiative, over 15,000 people, including India’s top industrialists, have launched a signature campaign, urging MPs to allow Parliament function, debate and legislate. Soon after the House met in the afternoon session, Jaitley moved the GST Bill for discussion. While Congress members stormed the Well shouting “No”, some Opposition members could be heard asking the government to begin a debate followed by voting over the contentious issues.