New Delhi: The Congress decided on Thursday to boycott the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rollout in Parliament on Friday, saying the country was “ill-prepared” for its implementation and the Central Hall should not be used for such midnight functions.
The decision was announced by Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Ghulam Nabi Azad who said such midnight sessions had only been held on three occasions related to the country’s Independence.
Congress leaders also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was quiet on incidents of violence in different parts of the country and farmers were committing suicide.
The leaders said the government was seeking to gain publicity for itself by holding a midnight function for GST roll out.
Azad said three midnight functions held in the Central Hall – in 1947, 1972 and 1997 – were all related to Independence.
“Probably for BJP, the years 1947, 1972 and 1997 are not important as they did not take part in the freedom struggle,” Azad said.
Party leader Anand Sharma said that the “country is ill-prepared for roll out of GST”.
He said the GST had been conceptualised by the Congress and BJP had stalled its roll out for seven years.
“We repeatedly cautioned the government that it is not one nation-one tax, neither is it a perfect bill,” Sharma said.
Congress will repent, says Venkaiah Naidu
Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said on Thursday that the Congress will repent its decision to boycott the midnight function for the launch of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Talking to reporters here, Naidu said the function was being held in the Central Hall of Parliament at midnight to coincide with the time of GST rollout from July 1.
The Congress decision was “untenable, illogical”, the Union Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Information and Broadcasting Minister said.
“I don’t understand why they have taken this step of boycotting (the launch)… Sooner of later they will repent besides paying a heavy price,” he said.
Naidu said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that the GST was a collective effort and had thanked political parties for their support.
