BJP has finally woken up to GST effects: Abhishek Manu Singhvi

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Wednesday said that after the electoral shocks in the Hindi heartland, the BJP has finally woken up to the effects of the Goods and Services Tax.

"After a deep slumber and when the alarm bells for the BJP have started ringing in the Hindi heartland, PM Modi has suddenly woken up. In a media conclave, yesterday, he has 'hinted' that 99% of all items would be taxed at 18% or at less. While this is still a hint and not a decision, the Congress leaders had been demanding the same since 2015," Singhvi told reporters at the Parliament.

"It is important to note that the back in 2017, before the flawed implementation of a poorly crafted GST, the Chief Economic Adviser to this government had clearly recommended a GST rate of 15-15.5% and demonstrated that it was a revenue neutral rate. But an arrogant Modi Government, drunk on power, refused to heed to its own CEA. Infact, a midnight celebration of enforcing taxes on the people of India was held by the Modi government in Parliament," said Singhvi.

He further said five months ago, finance minister Arun Jaitley had written a blog where he said a single tax is a flawed idea. "We want to ask Jaitley, what changed in the past 5 months," said Singhvi.