SURAT: "BJP has always been considered a pro-Hindutva party and if someone wants to mimic us, I have no complaint. But there is a basic principle in politics, if an original is available, why would anyone prefer a clone?" Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said here on Saturday. Jaitley was taking potshots at the newfound "religiosity" of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in the aftermath of controversy on the latter's entry in the register for non-Hindus upon his visit to Somnath temple a few days ago.
Addressing a press meet here on Saturday, Jaitley said, "After demonetisation in the country, BJP got two-thirds majority in UP and Uttarakhand elections. This shows that people support demonetisation. Similarly, BJP won the civic elections in UP and will now register victory in Gujarat elections." When told former PM Manmohan Singh has described GST as tax terrorism, Jaitley said, "The UPA government wanted to implement GST, but could not do it due to lack of consensus among parties. Congress says there should be only one rate in GST, which is purely an anti-poor statement. You can't have one rate in GST as India has a diverse economy. You cannot have one rate for soap and Mercedes."
Coming down heavily on the Manmohan government, Jaitley said, "There were three features of the UPA government. It was the most corrupt government; a leaderless government where the PM was on post, but not in power and affected by policy paralysis. India was a part of fragile five economies in the world. Today, in three years of the Modi government, India has become the fastest growing country among major economies of the world, political corruption has been finished in Delhi, India has become the largest foreign investment nation and notched up 42nd position in World Bank ranking."
About Rahul's jibes on Tata Nano car, Jaitley said, "Gujarat has the ability to become the automobile manufacturing hub in the country. If they (Congress) can't see it, we have no issues."
Addressing a press meet here on Saturday, Jaitley said, "After demonetisation in the country, BJP got two-thirds majority in UP and Uttarakhand elections. This shows that people support demonetisation. Similarly, BJP won the civic elections in UP and will now register victory in Gujarat elections." When told former PM Manmohan Singh has described GST as tax terrorism, Jaitley said, "The UPA government wanted to implement GST, but could not do it due to lack of consensus among parties. Congress says there should be only one rate in GST, which is purely an anti-poor statement. You can't have one rate in GST as India has a diverse economy. You cannot have one rate for soap and Mercedes."
Coming down heavily on the Manmohan government, Jaitley said, "There were three features of the UPA government. It was the most corrupt government; a leaderless government where the PM was on post, but not in power and affected by policy paralysis. India was a part of fragile five economies in the world. Today, in three years of the Modi government, India has become the fastest growing country among major economies of the world, political corruption has been finished in Delhi, India has become the largest foreign investment nation and notched up 42nd position in World Bank ranking."
About Rahul's jibes on Tata Nano car, Jaitley said, "Gujarat has the ability to become the automobile manufacturing hub in the country. If they (Congress) can't see it, we have no issues."
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