Ex-PM should advice Cong to change stand on GST: Jaitley

If  Manmohan Singh is a real statesman, he should advice Congress not to press for GST that provides tariff in Constitution, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said. 

Responding on Facebook to the former Prime Minister’s recent interview where he accused the government of not sufficiently engaging Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi on the GST Bill, Jaitley said he met leaders of all political parties. Dr Singh also said Jaitley met him to invite him for his daughter’s wedding. 

"The Congress has done a volte-face. Both the Parliamentary Affairs Minister and myself have discussed the GST with every senior Congress leader in Parliament," Jaitley said, asking whether Congress’ insistence on “constitutional cap” for GST was politically motivated.

"The economist in Dr Singh should advice his party that tariffs are not provided for in the Constitution. This is what nation expects from the senior leaders and statesmen like former Prime Ministers," Jaitley said in a Facebook post titled 'What Dr. Manmohan Singh should advise his Party'. Referring to the change in policy making, Jaitley said policies are no longer framed in party headquarters.