Reform bills are in interest of nation: BJP

New Delhi, Aug 8: With Congress blocking the passage of GST bill in Parliament, BJP today hoped the opposition party would understand the importance of the reform bills brought in the interest of the country and not the coalition.

"Reform agenda is for the country, it is not for NDA. The reform agenda has been waiting for at least nearly a decade. It is an agenda for the country. It is an agenda for India's economy.

"I am sure Congress would understand the importance of these bills and will get back in the House, participate in the discussion and help pass the bills," Union Minister and BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman said.

She said the GST Bill is something which Congress Ministers have worked for, with at least two of their former Finance Ministers having worked on it and the party should come forward in its passage. Sitharaman said government is definitely making every effort to bring everybody into the House.

Asked if the BJP was focussing on other parties other than Congress to enable passage of the tax reform bill, she said there is no "differentiated treatment" between other parties and Congress.

"We hope everybody will come forward in getting it passed," she said. The Congress has been blocking the Goods and Services Tax legislation pending passage in Rajya Sabha, as they have been creating pandemonium in the House.

The Upper House has failed to transact any business ever since it met for the Monsoon Session on July 21, and some key legislations like the GST Bill, Land Acquisition Bill and Real Estate Bill are pending before it.

PTI