Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday said Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi is habitual of making ill-mannered statements.
Talking to reporters here, Pradhan observed this when he was asked to comment on Rahul Gandhi's charge that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is actually a "Gabbar Singh Tax".
On Monday, While addressing a rally in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Rahul termed the GST as Gabbar Singh Tax.
Late Amjad Khan played the role of Gabbar Singh, a ruthless dacoit, in 1975 blockbuster Hindi film 'Sholay'.
"I want' to excuse myself from Rahul Gandhi's ill-mannerism. May god give him wisdom because Congress' erstwhile governments didn't leave any stone unturned to implement the GST. Few days back, the Congress was sulking as to why was it not given credit of bringing the GST. However, we did give credit to the Congress," Pradhan told reporters.
He further added: "If a person calls his party's Prime Minister 'non-sense' then it shows he is habitual of making such type (Gabbar Singh Tax) of remarks. However, I can understand his (Rahul Gandhi's) mental condition after the Congress' embarrassing defeat in 2014 Lok Sabha elections."
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In 2013, Rahul Gandhi parachuted a press conference that was being addressed by then Congress communication department chairman Ajay Maken at the Press Club of India about an ordinance to protect convicted law makers, which was passed by then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's government.
The Gandhi scion stormed into the press conference and thundered, "My opinion about the ordinance is that it is complete nonsense. It should be torn up and thrown away."
After dropping the bombshell, Rahul immediately left the venue.
Pradhan also refuted the allegation that unemployment has augmented after the implementation of the GST and demonetisation.
"Havoc is being created that there is unemployment because of GST and demonetisation," Pradhan said.
He further questioned: "Should the capable not pay taxes for the benefit of poor? Should the tax net not increase? Should the simplification of tax not happen in the country? Was it right that only 3 crore people out of 130 crore were under tax net?"
The Union Minister added that the income tax returns have increased because of this tax reform which will benefit the country's economy in the future.
He also said that he as petroleum minister and the government are in favour of bringing petrol and diesel within the ambit of the GST, "but it will happen only after a consensus is reached with state governments".
Replying another question, Pradhan claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will form the next government in Gujarat with a two-thirds majority.
"However, I would like to extend my best wishes to Rahul Gandhi, who is concerned about his future," Pradhan said smilingly.
The 14th legislative assembly election in Gujarat is to be held by the end of 2017 as the term of 13th state assembly ends on January 22, 2018.
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