Protests in Parliament on Tuesday as the government introduced GST bill
India's leading industrialists have signed an online petition deploring the incessant disruptions in Parliament and demanding that both houses be allowed to "function, debate and legislate" on proposals like the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
In an acrid response, Congress leader Manish Tewari has tweeted that India Inc wants Parliament to bow to their demands.
The online petition has been signed by more than 15,000 people, including industry captains like Sunil Munjal, Adi Godrej, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Rahul Bajaj, Anu Aga, Ajay Sriram, Sumit Mazumder and Kris Gopalakrishnan. The petition emphasizes that legislation like GST must not be stalled by the "perpetual disruptions" in Parliament.
"Street demonstrations against the Chair of the Lower House are of unprecedented scale. The Lower house is without some opposition members. The upper house is perpetually adjourned," the petition says.
"Important laws like the Constitution amendments in Goods and Services Tax which improves India's growth rate is held up. GST has taken a long time in coming and has taken years of consensus building."
On Tuesday, with just two more days left in the monsoon session, the government introduced the GST Bill in the Rajya Sabha amid chaotic protests. The Lok Sabha has already cleared the proposal - the government is in a huge majority there.
India Inc has said that GST could significantly contribute to the growth of the country and its states.
"Parliament did not get an opportunity to discuss important issues, like floods, security issues, other economic priorities, etc....We, therefore, urge all political parties to have a collaborative and consultative process in the Parliament."
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has told her lawmakers to continue with noisy disruptions, demanding the removal of three BJP leaders enveloped in controversies. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said in the Rajya Sabha that the government was "using the media and corporates" against his party.