‘PM hit country with torpedoes of note ban, GST’

NEW DELHI: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, saying he had destroyed the country’s economy with two “torpedoes” — note ban and GST.

Wondering why the government was “celebrating” the first anniversary of demonetisation on November 8, Gandhi said, “I don’t know what is there to celebrate.” He added that Modi had failed to understand the pain of the people.

Gandhi said while the economy was able to withstand the “torpedo” of note ban, it could not withstand the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and “was in tatters now”.

“The Prime Minister is not able to understand the feelings of the people and the hurt and sadness these two decisions have caused,” he told reporters after holding two meetings here with Congress leaders on demonetisation and GST.

The Congress leader said GST was a “good idea” which was “destroyed” by the Modi government.

Gandhi’s remarks come a day after Prime Minister Modi said he was prepared to pay any price but would not roll back the reforms.

“The government would

› The Prime Minister is not able to understand the feelings of the people and the hurt and sadness these two decisions (GST and demonetisation) have caused. RAHUL GANDHI, Congress V-P

make changes to better the system, and whether we remain or not, we will not let the nation be ruined,” Modi said. “There would be no rollback of the mega reform move,” Modi said in Karnataka on Sunday.

The first Congress meeting on Monday discussed the plans of the party, along with other opposition parties, to observe November 8 as ‘black day’, while the second deliberated upon GST implementation.

The second meet was attended by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and ex-finance minister P Chidambaram.