Congress praises PM after editors’ conference, pulls up BJP

NEW DELHI - Congress fully utilizing the comments of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh that the Opposition, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), delayed the introduction of the Constitution Amendment Bill on Goods and Service Tax (GST) in the Parliament, on Wednesday questioned the opposition as to why Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) action against a former Gujarat Minister should come in the way of the reform measure.

“If the Prime Minister has given a statement, it needs to be taken seriously. BJP should introspect as to why an important economic reform like GST should be stopped because CBI has as per the Supreme Court direction proceeded against someone (former Gujarat Minister Amit Shah) accused in a fake encounter case,” Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters here.

During his interaction with top television editors, Dr. Singh earlier today said more reforms will be unveiled in the 2011-12 Budget, but blamed the Opposition for delaying the introduction of crucial Bills in Parliament.

Blaming the Opposition for the delay in introduction of the Constitution Amendment Bill on Goods and Service Tax, Dr. Singh said: “When the Parliament is not allowed to function, when the Opposition do not wish to cooperate with the path-breaking reforms of Goods and Services Tax (GST)… This is a reform which is needed.”

“The Opposition, particularly the BJP, has taken a very hostile attitude,” he added.

The Congress spokesperson also praised the Prime Minister for answering all queries transparently and truthfully’.

Further dismissing the criticisms that cropped up soon after the conference, Tewari said the Congress gives ‘ten out of ten’ to the Prime Minister for his performance.

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s coalition politics remarks, Tewari said: “Prime Minister merely and correctly underscored what the reality and compulsions of coalition politics are and hastened to add that this was not reflective of any re-thinking on alliances.”

Dr. Singh during the interaction with television editors earlier in the day said though he was aware of his responsibilities, there were certain limitations of coalition politics.

Commenting on the 2G spectrum scam, Dr. Singh said: “Since the Ministries of Finance and Telecom had agreed to continue with the existing policy of allocating 2G spectrum. I did not feel that I was in a position to insist that auction must be insisted.”

On retaining Raja as the Telecom Minister in the UPA-II, Dr Singh said in a coalition government, the choices of the Leaders of the Alliance partners have to be accepted and that the DMK had suggested Raja and Dayanidhi Maran into the Union Cabinet.

“At that moment, there was no reason to feel that anything wrong had been done,” he said. (ANI)