Modi hails GST as 'growth' tool; 'shoddily implemented move that failed economy,' says Congress

On the first anniversary of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the tax regime as a tool that has brought “growth, simplicity and transparency”, while the Opposition Congress termed it “shoddily implemented and over complicated” reform that failed the country’s economy.

“It is boosting formalisation, enhancing productivity, furthering ‘Ease of Doing Business’, benefitting small and medium enterprises,” Modi tweeted.

In his recent Mann Ki Baat radio address, Modi had described the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as a fine example of cooperative federalism.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress termed the GST “horrific” and said that the tax regime had been ineffective in implementation.

“The huge value of GST, simplicity and ease of compliance & administration has failed. The GST has been largely ineffective in implementation with stacked refunds and cumbersome GST compliance procedures,” Congress tweeted.

Congress said that while the “shoddily implemented and overcomplicated” tax regime failed the country’s economy, PM Modi still kept “gloating” about it.

“The GST is one of PM Modi's U-Turns. The shoddily implemented and overcomplicated GST has failed the economy. Despite this, PM Modi continues to gloat about it,” Congress tweeted with a video of Modi’s earlier statement on the GST.

The GST is one of PM Modi's U-Turns. The shoddily implemented and over complicated GST has failed the economy. Despite this, PM Modi continues to gloat about it. #FailedGST pic.twitter.com/xVzyqY9vqG

— Congress (@INCIndia) July 1, 2018