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India needs politicking that is centred on development, not catering to the whims and fancies of politicians. India's 1.2 billion-strong population needs quick, smart decisions that can take the country to greater heights, not empty rhetoric.
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In the last two sessions of Parliament, not much work was done, thanks to Congress party that was hell-bent on stalling operations. More of the same is in the offing during Budget 2016 if things don't calm down and the Indian economy becomes the focus of everyone's work rather than a narrow political agenda. (PTI)
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Amit Shah had recently said 99 per cent of people are in support of raising the slogan and his party will convince the remainder. (PTI)
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3. Former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, however, said the ruling party was making a "bizarre link" and insisted the Congress has raised "genuine concerns" on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill. (PTI photo)
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4. Congress party says it rues the fact that the opposition party has not received the 'revised formulation' on the GST Bill by the government after the party conveyed its suggestions to it. Jaitley, however, contested Congress' remarks, saying the government had communicated its response to "responsible leaders" of that party. "I am not responsible for communication gap in that party," he said. (Reuters photo)
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5. FM Arun Jaitley said that the three suggestions that have come from Congress now were 'contrary to' what P Chidambaram and his predecessor in Finance Ministry Pranab Mukherjee had proposed. (PTI photo)
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6. However, Arun Jaitley rushed to emphasise that the ruling NDA was willing to find a mutually acceptable solution, sayings even on those three points "there is some meeting ground", which the government has conveyed to Congress. "These issues can be overcome provided there is willingness from Congress party to honestly support the GST," Jaitley added.
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7. Arun Jaitley rejected suggestions that the government had any role in the National Herald issue, saying neither Enforcement Directorate (ED) nor Income Tax department had taken any punitive action so far. Jaitley also said the government was not a party to the dispute. (Express photo)
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8. Bolstering the Congress case against 'vendetta politics', P Chidambaram flagged the 'suspicion' and recalled that after BJP came to power, the ED conducted a preliminary enquiry and closed the matter, saying 'no case' existed. "The ED (director) was abruptly transferred and the case was re-opened. That answers the question why there is suspicion about the BJP's motive…It (the issue) came to Parliament because the BJP did not remain neutral on this…that triggers a suspicion," he said. (PTI photo)
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9. Meanwhile, Sonia Gandhi went into a huddle with senior party leaders at her 10, Janpath residence to chalk out the party's strategy in Parliament. Among those present in the meeting were Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and party's deputy leader in the House Anand Sharma. However, the meeting is not expected to change course of Congress action in Parliament.
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10. "I wish and pray that the GST (issue) is delinked (from the National Herald case)," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said when asked whether he sees any link between the two issues.(AP photo)
