Over 600 students of Maharani’s Science, Arts and Commerce College for Women interacted for over an hour with Congress president Rahul Gandhi, amid cheers and rush for selfies with the 47-year-old MP here on Saturday.
He arrived at the college after visiting the Chamundeshwari temple atop Chamundi Hills and replied to over a dozen questions posed by select undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Demonetisation, GST
Mr. Gandhi hit out at demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) while replying to questions on these subjects. The multiple tax slabs under the GST will be withdrawn and a uniform taxation system introduced in the country if the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was voted to power at the Centre, he said.
“The 28% GST slab will be removed once we come to power ... GST was the Congress’ idea and we wanted one tax, but the Modi government opted for multiple taxes that we opposed,” Mr. Gandhi said.
When a student asked whether the Congress will withdraw the existing tax slabs if it comes to power at the Centre, he said, “There won’t be 28% GST.”
Mr. Gandhi said demonetisation gave a massive blow to the country’s economy and job creation. Small businesses were badly hit by the decision. “I totally disagree with the way the step was taken,” he said, maintaining that the Finance Minister, the Chief Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister, and the RBI Governor were not informed about the move.
Suggesting a “decentralised” approach for handling the black money menace, Mr. Gandhi said the government can fight against black money by taking the people of the country together instead of taking unilateral decisions. “Engage the citizens in the fight. Nirav Modi-type cases are coming out only because of the people of this country,” he said.
