Pravash Pradhan
Post News Network
New Delhi, May 7: BJD is likely to support the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill in Rajya Sabha, as it did in Lok Sabha Wednesday. However, after his meeting with party MPs in Parliament Thursday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, on a visit here, appeared non-committal on this issue.
“You will see (our stand on the floor of the house),” Patnaik told Orissa POST on the party’s stand on this in the Upper House of Parliament. However, the Chief Minister is learnt to have asked party MPs to press for the Green Cess provision by way of proposing an amendment in GST.
The BJD chief also discussed with party MPs the issue of Land Bill and sought an amendment in it to make farmer as a stakeholder in the enterprise for which his land is acquired. Patnaik also advised party MPs to raise the demands of Orissa in Parliament more vigorously and follow up matters with the concerned ministers.
“I have just had a meeting in Parliament House with the BJD MPs regarding matters they should follow up with various Union ministers, concerning Orissa,” the Chief Minister said after the meeting.
Patnaik also emphasized on the need for MPs to have better coordination among themselves as also with state ministers so that issues could be taken up and pushed in better ways. It was imperative that members were aware of the latest economic and development issues of the state, he said.