Negative mindset of Cong stalling GST: BJP

Launching a counter offensive on Rahul Gandhi on Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, BJP on Saturday alleged Congress was “never serious” about it and the opposition party’s “negative mindset” was delaying the key tax reforms legislation.

Dubbing Rahul Gandhi as a “non-serious, half-politician”, BJP attacked him for his remark that his party would back the GST provided its three conditions were met and said he should clearly state whether Congress was in favour of or against it, instead of “diverting” the issue. “Instead of playing anti-development, anti-poor politics, Rahul Gandhi should tell the country upfront whether his party supports the GST Bill or not. The Congress should stop beating around the bush on the issue and come out clean on whether or not it backs the GST Bill, crucial for the country’s development,” BJP’s national secretary and media cell incharge Shrikant Sharma said.

Accusing the Congress leadership of “deliberately disrupting” Parliament to stall GST, he said, Congress was “never serious” about the Bill and the draft bill prepared by UPA was opposed by several Congress-ruled states, while the draft GST bill prepared by BJP was “mostly acceptable to most states”.