Continuing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ruling Bharatiya Janata Party over GST and demonetisation, All India Congress Committee (AICC) vice-president Rahul Gandhi during his three-day visit to PM Modi’s poll bound home-State say that it was only after Congress put pressure Modi Government reduced GST on certain item, and his party would only stop protesting when the Government at Centre implements real GST in place and free the nation from Gabbar Singh Tax.
The Congress vice-president who kicked-off the fourth and final phase of Navsarjan Gujarat Yatra to cover Northern region of poll-bound Gujarat on Saturday, was addressing a public gathering at Chiloda village on the outskirts of the State capital Gandhinagar.
After his arrival, Rahul made it a point to offer prayer at the famous Akshardham Temple where Modi had paid a visit on the occasion of the silver jubilee function of the religious place of Swaminarayan sect a week ago.
“India doesn’t want five different tax slabs, but only one. Major structural changes are required in GST. Congress has been clear from the beginning about the 18 per cent slab, but Modi ji neither listens to Opposition party nor the people. When the Congress will come back into power at Centre, it would try to reduce GST below 18 per cent,” said the scion of Gandhi-Nehru family, adding that demonetisation and GST created large scale unemployment across the country.
In an attempt to charm women voters, Rahul said that Congress would give tickets to more number of women in the ensuing Gujarat polls and the party was committed to fight for 33 per cent reservation for women. Later in an another public gathering at Himmatnagar town of Sabarkantha district, he criticised PM Modi for keeping silence on the disproportionate income issue of BJP president Amit Shah’s son’s company and over recent notice of Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to Gujarat Chief Minister.
“Modi ji used to say ‘Na Khata Hu, Na Khane Dunga (not doing corruption, not allowing corruption). Now he has cocooned himself in a mode – Na Bolunga, Na Bolne Dunga (Not Speaking, Not allow to speak),’” he said taking a jibe at the Prime Minister’s previous remarks.
The people of Gujarat had come to know that since past 22 years, BJP ruled Governments only worked for the few industrialists, but now Congress is set to come into power and its Government would keep its door open for farmers and small traders, he claimed.
On the way, Rahul’s convoy stopped at a roadside dhaba near Chadrala village where he and other senior Congress leader had traditional Gujarati snacks — Gota and Fafada along with Chatani and a cup of tea. Rahul also gave autograph to children and talked to them. With a view to connect with common people, he also met differently-abled people too. Sources said that in the afternoon, Rahul’s specially modified bus had some technical problem near Khedbrahma town where he left the bus and boarded another vehicle.
Rahul, who began his three-day tour on Saturday, will cover 19 out of 32 assembly seats and six districts of North Gujarat region. During his visit, he would offer prayer at six important temples enroute. The Congress leader has already completed three such tours of Saurashtra, Central and South Gujarat as part of the Yatra. It is worth mentioning that Congress party got 18 out of 32 assembly seats in North Gujarat.