The Opposition is not warming up to the Modi Government’s ambitious plan to hold a midnight bash to usher India into the GST era. While the Congress is yet to confirm its participation in the midnight function in Parliament on Friday, the Trinamool Congress and left parties announced that they would not participate in it.
Several Opposition parties have also questioned the propriety of Prime Minister Narendra Modi launching the biggest tax reform in India’s history when President Pranab Mukherjee will be present on the occasion.
The Government has invited all MPs and Chief Ministers and has also requested former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda to join Modi and the President at the high table. Singh is yet to confirm his participation.
Though no official word has come as to whether the Congress will participate, it has raised objections to the Centre’s invitation, which says that Modi will launch the new tax regime. “How can the Prime Minister launch the GST in the presence of the PresidentIJ This is not done and acceptable,” said Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.
The invite, sent by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar for the function in Parliament’s Central Hall, says Modi will launch the GST in the presence of the President.
Surjewala, however, suggested that the Government should consider requests to delay the launch of the GST in view of protests by textile traders and others. “They can’t have the arrogance of numbers and not listen to small traders and weavers,” he said.
Sources said the Congress held internal consultations as well as informal discussions with other parties on whether or not to attend the meeting.
Sources in left parties said some key Opposition parties may not participate, contending that the official machinery itself is “not prepared” to introduce GST, but the Government was “rushing” through to implement it. A left leader said all sections are agitating and one cannot turn it into an entertainment event when people are suffering.
The Government will use the Central Hall to launch the new taxation system that is set to dramatically re-shape the economy. A conch will be sounded at midnight to usher in the GST. Modi will be the key speaker at the function.
The GST Bill was originally piloted by Mukherjee when he was the Finance Minister.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the “unnecessary hurry to roll out GST is another epic blunder by the Centre.”