'Half-baked' GST launch a 'self-promotional spectacle': Rahul Gandhi

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday targeted the Narendra Modi government for rolling out a "half-baked" Goods and Service Tax with a "self-promotional spectacle".

In a series of tweets, Gandhi said the GST holds "great potential" but it is being "rushed through in a half-baked way with a self-promotional spectacle".

"India deserves a GST roll-out that does not put crores of its ordinary citizens, small businesses and traders through tremendous pain and anxiety," Gandhi, who is abroad since June 13, said.

"Unlike demonetisation, GST is a reform that Congress has championed and backed from the beginning. But like demonetisation, GST is being executed by an incompetent and insensitive government without planning, foresight and institutional readiness #GSTTamasha," he said.

His remarks came hours before the midnight launch of the new tax regime in Parliament's Central, an event his party has announced that it would boycott. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was invited to be on the dais, will also not attend the function.

Congress has raised concerns about the readiness of the country to move into GST regime. It has also taken note of protests by traders. The party has also tried to rally Opposition parties to boycott the function.