GST launch pure showmanship: Yechury

The CPI(M) on Friday described the midnight launch of Goods and Services Tax (GST) as "pure showmanship" when the country is not prepared for its launch.

In a statement, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said the government "has not done its homework" and the country is not prepared for the launch.

"There are many problems with it, for eg, multiple rates and our medium and small scale industries will be badly affected," he said.

 Yechury said his party had asked for a Parliamentary scrutiny of GST Council decisions but the BJP does not want that to happen. "That is neither a good democratic nor a healthy economic practice," he said.

 He also took objection to the launch at midnight saying, it cannot be compared to events in the independence struggle.

"Only thrice so far has the Parliament met at midnight, only to commemorate dates with the freedom struggle, that is the sanctity of the midnight meets. This is just pure showmanship like everything else in this government, a complete waste of public money, as reportedly Rs 5 crore is being spent on renovation for the event," he said.

 "We don't approve of this way of marking GST," he said adding his party has not given a boycott call or a whip issued to attend the event.

 Sources said the party has permitted former West Bengal Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta as he was the first chairman of the empowered committee of ministers on GST. However, they said, none of the MPs or other leaders are likely to attend.