Sonia and Rahul Gandhi protesting at Parliament
New Delhi:
After launching his government's final push for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill in Parliament, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today hit out at Sonia and Rahul Gandhi over unrelenting protests by the Congress, saying they could not stomach anyone else ruling the country.
"They have taken the 2014 defeat badly. The Congress and their two top leaders are unable to accept that anyone outside the Gandhi family can rule India. It is high time that they accept it and drop their negative approach," Mr Jaitley said.
Sonia Gandhi, the Congress president, has refused to call off her party's protests over senior BJP leaders involved in the Lalit Modi and Vyapam controversies. The Congress has demanded Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj's removal for her help to tainted cricket boss Lalit Modi.
Arun Jaitley said the Congress is in "self-destruct mode."
"During their reign, their policies were a liability, it continues to be a liability on the economy of the country in the Opposition," Mr Jaitley said.
He accused the Congress of going back on its word on GST.
"The Congress mooted the proposal in 2006 and introduced GST in 2011, they failed to bring a consensus. In less than a year, PM Modi's NDA (National Democratic Alliance) brought about a consensus," Mr Jaitley said.
There were repeated disruptions in Parliament today as the government introduced the GST proposal, with just two more days left in the monsoon session.
The Rajya house was adjourned seconds after the GST bill was introduced, as the Congress refused to stop its protests in Parliament to allow a discussion.
The GST bill will enable one national sales tax to replace an array of taxes in states.
"They have taken the 2014 defeat badly. The Congress and their two top leaders are unable to accept that anyone outside the Gandhi family can rule India. It is high time that they accept it and drop their negative approach," Mr Jaitley said.
Sonia Gandhi, the Congress president, has refused to call off her party's protests over senior BJP leaders involved in the Lalit Modi and Vyapam controversies. The Congress has demanded Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj's removal for her help to tainted cricket boss Lalit Modi.
Arun Jaitley said the Congress is in "self-destruct mode."
"During their reign, their policies were a liability, it continues to be a liability on the economy of the country in the Opposition," Mr Jaitley said.
He accused the Congress of going back on its word on GST.
"The Congress mooted the proposal in 2006 and introduced GST in 2011, they failed to bring a consensus. In less than a year, PM Modi's NDA (National Democratic Alliance) brought about a consensus," Mr Jaitley said.
There were repeated disruptions in Parliament today as the government introduced the GST proposal, with just two more days left in the monsoon session.
The Rajya house was adjourned seconds after the GST bill was introduced, as the Congress refused to stop its protests in Parliament to allow a discussion.
The GST bill will enable one national sales tax to replace an array of taxes in states.
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