Coming out in full support of Goods and Service Tax (GST), Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on Thursday attacked the Congress party for blocking the tax reform legislation. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president accused the Congress of having an agenda of undoing whatever BJP Government did without bothering whether it is in nation's interest.
“I am shocked how the Congress has backed out of something which they used to propagate once. I think all things can be sorted out in discussion, but their aim is just to make sure whatever BJP does, undo that. That is the agenda and not what is good for the state or what is good for the country,” he said.
Sukhbir said that his party is in support of GST as it will boost the country's GDP. “We are in support of GST because it is the best thing that could happen to the country. It will give a boost to our GDP growth,” he said.
On whether SAD, which opposed land acquisition Bill earlier, was onboard now, he touted that Punjab has highlighted its policy and asked the Centre to adopt it. “What I understand is that they are leaving it to states to implement the land acquisition bill. Every state is independently going to decide on their policy,” he said.
He added that Punjab had the “best policy” and the state has referred its policy even to the Prime Minister and to the Parliament. “Instead of looking at something new, look at Punjab’s land acquisition policy which is the best. We have successfully acquired thousands of acres,” he said.