Headline: Rahul promises to fulfill what Modi couldn't
Strap: Takes a jibe at PM on stalemate of GST, says people losing patience
PTI
Bengaluru
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing to keep his promises on bringing back black money, creating jobs and price control saying people were “losing patience”.
He also hinted at continued stalemate on GST saying the government had not come forward to discuss opposition concerns on the landmark tax reform.
“The farmers of this country are struggling, the poor people of this country are struggling. In fact, the promises made by Prime Minister about reducing the prices, bringing back black money of Rs 15 lakh per citizen... we are still waiting for all these promises to come true,” he told reporters here.
Modi, he said, “is in the habit of making promises, whatever comes to his mind and not delivering on any one of them.” “He gave a promise of 'Swachh Bhaarat', I don't see where 'Swachh Bhaarat' has had any impact. He talked about 'Make in India', I don't see any impact on jobs. I don't see any thing happening with 'Make in India', except the little lion they have (and) that they keep showing it on TV and wasting public exchequers money,” he said.
Gandhi said it was “about time the Prime Minister gets his act together and starts to do something. People of India are losing their patience.” On the landmark Goods and Services Tax Bill, which his party had stalled in the last session of Parliament, Rahul said said Congress wanted a “pro-people GST”.
“The Central government does not believe in discussion with anybody. The Central government in fact cannot discuss with anybody because the central government is Mr Narendra Modi. There is no other central government. So the only person who decides everything in the central government is Mr Narendra Modi,” he said.
Rahul was asked if there were feelers to end the stalemate over the GST Bill.
“We have three clear issues on GST where we disagree with the government. The Congress party brought the GST, we are for the GST (and) we want the GST to be passed.
“But, what we are not for is an anti-people GST. We are for a pro-people GST. So the discussion is about the three points that we believe in. If the government compromises with us, we are ready to do the GST,” he said.
While he did not elaborate on the demands, the Congress has in the past demanded that the rate of Goods and Service Tax-- which will replace all indirect taxes-- should be fixed at 18 per cent and the provision to allow states to levy 1 per cent additional tax over and above the GST rate be scrapped.
It also wanted petroleum and alcohol to be part of GST regime.
RAHUL PROMISES
Rahul in his K'taka tour said people in the country are struggling and waiting for PM's promises to come true
Said Modi has a habit of promising but fails to deliver
Targets Modi's Make in India saying nothing related to it is happening, there are no job being generated through the initiative
Rahul assured Congress was in favour of a pro-people GST bill
