Amendments in GST just an eye wash: Sharad Yadav

Rebel Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav on Saturday attacked the central government, saying the amendments in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) were just an "eye wash" because the general public is totally out to criticise the government's policies.

He also said that the 2019 general election would be fought on the "economic issue".

"The amendments in the GST announced by the Finance Ministry on Friday are meant just to divert the attention of the people from the real issues," Sharad Yadav said at a press conference here.

He also said that due to hastily implementation of the GST and demonetisation over three to five crore people of the country have lost their jobs in different sectors.

"After demonetisation and GST, production of industries, sale and purchase by traders and other businesses have been reduced to the extent from 20 to 80 per cent," he said, adding that the most affected sector has been the real estate sector and due to that number of labourers have returned back to their villages.

He also referred to the farmers committing suicide across the country.

Lashing out at the government over new return rules and norms, the rebel JD-U leader, noting that the government has announced that now the traders will have to file their returns quarterly instead of monthly, asked: "Has the entire country become computer friendly? Is power is available for 24 hours everywhere?"

"This government is only doing a patch up work and soon we shall take a big step against it."

He also said that the government has not announced that for how many times a trader can face imprisonment for filing wrong information by mistake.

"This is the worst inspector raj that the country will ever face," he said.

He also said that the 2019 general elections this time will be held up on the economic issues as the country is facing an economic crisis.

Describing as "unjust" the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) order to move the Delhi's designated protest site from Jantar Mantar to Ramlila Maidan, he urged it to take back its order.

The rebel JD-U leader also said that a national council meeting of the party has been called here on Sunday, where the party's state presidents would participate.

--IANS

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