Modi, Jaitley ideologically opposed to GST, alleges Congress

A day after the Union government reached out to the Congress on the Goods and Services Tax Bill, the Congress released a number of documents that showed how the BJP and the Gujarat government opposed the UPA’s Bill between 2010 and 2014.

Party spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil told reporters here on Friday that three Ds – deception, deceit and double speak – have become hallmarks of the Narendra Modi government. He said the Centre has not responded to the three concerns raised by the Congress on the Bill and is trying to mislead the people by saying that Opposition is blocking development.

Prime Minister Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley are putting up false smoke screen by accusing Congress for obstructing GST, he said. “The real truth is that GST stands consistently red flagged for last nine years by RSS and Swadeshi Jagran Manch. The BJP government has resorted to misleading and dramatic optics to masquerade its mal-intent rather than sincere operationalisation of GST in the interest of the people of India,” the Congress spokesperson said.

The party provided copies of five speeches of Gujarat Finance Minister Saurabh Patel in the empowered group of finance ministers, a copy of the 2009 election manifesto of the BJP which said GST will be rationalised between 12 and 14 per cent and various statements of Modi and Jaitley against the GST Bill.

“Modi, Jaitley and the entire BJP are ideologically opposed to a universal GST regime in India as an engine for economic growth. Modi and BJP government are now camouflaging the ‘paralysis of governance’ and ‘failure of leadership’ over last 19 months to misguide people by stating that current day grave economic crisis as also deflation of economy is happening because GST has not been cleared,” Gohil said. “Double speak, deception and red herring of BJP’s leadership, particularly Modi is opposing GST, is borne out from overwhelming documentary evidence,” he added.

Gohil said complete hypocrisy and deception of BJP and Modi were exposed as BJP government of Gujarat opposed the GST by making written submissions even after Modi’s assuming power at the Centre. “The BJP’s Gujarat government is of the opinion that the GST Bill is an attack on fiscal autonomy of the State. Secondly; GST Bill has an adverse impact on revenues of the States and the 122{+n}{+d} Constitutional Bill on GST brought by Modi government does not address any of the concerns. Thirdly; implementation of GST would cause severe loss to manufacturing State and affects ‘Make-in-India programme,” Gohil said quoting written objections dated of Gujarat government to the Bill.

“Despite the endorsement of Congress stance by Chief Economic Advisor of the government, Finance Minister and BJP leadership have been opposing these people friendly suggestions of the Congress,” he added.