Capping GST at 18 Percent a stupid thought PM

Capping GST at 18 Percent a stupid thought PM

On a day that crackled with political barbs and allegations between the two principal rivals in poll bound Gujarat, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi was not a Hindu. The Congress accused the BJP of indulging in gutter politics.

The Congress leader started his two day election campaign in Gujarat by visiting the Somnath Temple.The BJP termed Rahul Gandhi´s visits to various temples in the state, including Somnath,acharade.The BJP social media team circulated photographs of the visitor´s register at the Somnath Temple to claim that Rahul Gandhi, along with Congress leader Ahmed Patel, had signed in the temple´s visitor´s book kept for “nonHindus”

The Congress responded by accusing the BJP of forgery.It said the Congress vice president wasn´t just a Hindu, buta ´janeudhari´ Hindu, somebody who wears the sacred thread.It also circulated photocopies of the temple visitor´s book where Rahul Gandhi had put his signature and described the temple as an “inspiring” place

In the afternoon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined issue with the Congress vice president for having suggested the goods and services tax (GST) rate be capped at 18 per cent. In a counter to Rahul Gandhi having earlier described the GST rolled out by the Modi government as ´Gabbar Singh Tax´, Modi toldapublic rally in Morbi town in Saurashtra that those who have looted the country could only think of dacoits

Gabbar Singh was the eponymous dacoit in the cult Hindi movie of 1975, Sholay.Without mentioning Rahul Gandhi by name, Modi said a recently emerged “economist” was propagatinga “grand stupid thought” by suggesting that GST rate be capped at 18 per cent.

Modi said that this would mean 18 per cent tax on salt and 18 per cent tax on luxury cars costing Rs 5 crore. “You want to make goods used by the poor like clothes, foot wear and food costlier and you want to make cigarettes and liquor cheaper,” he said, slamming the “antipoor” Congress over its criticism of the tax reform.

The day, however, was marked by a social media war between the Congress and the BJP. As Rahul Gandhi, who had recently described himself as adevotee of Lord Shiva, visited the Somnath Temple, the BJP social media cell claimed the first prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, had opposed its construction.

The Business Standard, New Delhi, 30th November 2017