By stalling GST, Congress is running away from own baby: BJP

PUNE: Stepping up its attack on the main Opposition party, BJP today said by stalling the passage of Goods and Services Tax ( GST) bill in the Parliament, Congress was "running away from its own baby".

In a caustic comment on the "pre-planned" move to disrupt the monsoon session, BJP national spokesman Nalin Kohli said Congress, which introduced the bill when in power, was now running away from its own baby.

BJP ministers and leaders today fanned out to states and attacked Congress for the wash-out of the monsoon session of Parliament.

Addressing a press conference, Kohli said GST, favoured by many states, was an important measure for the rationalisation of tax structure and the economic growth.

He also questioned Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's maturity, criticising the latter's statement that Prime Minister should show his "guts" by bringing back the former IPL chairman Lalit Modi.

"Is Lalit Modi more relevant than the GST? Is he at the centre of Indian politics?" the BJP spokesman asked.

On the opposition's criticism that Prime Minister Narendra Modi avoided making a statement in the Parliament on the issues raised, Kohli said Congress had already announced its plan to disrupt the proceedings, which became evident when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was not allowed to make her speech.

Modi had spoken in the House earlier on many occasions, and it was wrong to suggest that he ran away from the debate, Kohli said.