Decision to implement GST taken in haste, says Rahul

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday hit out at the government, saying that it was not willing to discuss farmers’ issues in Parliament and that its decision to implement the GST was taken in a haste. Wielding a bow and arrow at ‘Kisaan Aakrosh Rally’ in Basnwara, he slammed the BJP and the RSS alleging that they do not hear the voices of the weak and the oppressed people. He said the Congress wanted to discuss the issues of farmers at length in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday but were not allowed to speak. “The government can announce GST implementation at midnight, but is not willing to discuss issues of farmers in Parliament for a minute,” Mr. Gandhi alleged. About implementation of the new indirect tax regime in the country, he said the decision was taken in haste. “We wanted the government to take three-four more months as the proposed GST reforms had deficiencies and would impact small traders,” Mr. Gandhi said. He said small traders, farmers, labourers, tribals and Dalits equally run the country, but the people in the BJP and the RSS do not hear the voices of the oppressed and the weak. Mr. Gandhi said, the Congress believes that farmers, traders, labourers play equally important role alongside industrialist in taking the country forward. “We want to take everybody along and take the country forward. India has made its mark due to its farmers, labourers and traders who have given their blood and sweat to it,” he said. Accusing the BJP government of neglecting farmers, labourers, youths and small traders the Congress vice- president said the benefits are reaching only to the top 50 industrialists of the country. He said the Congress will fight for the farmers and put pressure on the BJP government to waive farm loans in Rajasthan. “It was under pressure from the Congress, that the BJP government waived loans of farmers in Uttar Pradesh. In Punjab and Karnataka, Congress governments did not take time in providing relief measures to farmers by waiving their loans,” Mr. Gandhi said. “We will not let the Rajasthan government sleep till the loans of farmers are waived,” he said. Taking a jibe at the Modi government over its promise of providing employment to 2 crore youths, Mr. Gandhi said, “He had promised jobs through ‘Make In India’ campaign, but all claims have turned flat.”