After BSP, JD-U supports GST

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 1

Amidst its attack on the BJP-led government on “intolerance” and remarks by some of its ministers, the saffron party’s friend-turned-foe JD-U today announced support to the Centre’s economic reforms, including GST, just like BSP chief Mayawati had done yesterday.

During the debate on “Commitment to India’s Constitution”, the government again faced attack from Opposition with Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien accusing Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of indulging in “cowboy Constitutionalism” on the issue of obstructions in Parliament. 

However, JD-U leader KC Tyagi, who attacked the BJP over the issue of “Hindu Rashtra” and cited low representation of Muslims in political and Constitutional posts to support his point, also announced support for the NDA’s much-delayed GST Bill.

“We support you on GST. Our heart is not with your economic reforms agenda but we still support the Insurance Bill (on raising FDI cap to from 26 to 49 per cent). We totally support you on Coal and Mines (Bills). But you should also ask your five-six ministers to cooperate with the Constitution. One of them said that former President Abdul Kalam was a Muslim yet he was a nationalist. Is being a Muslim crime,” questioned Tyagi. The JD-U has 12 MPs in the Rajya Sabha, who along with BSP’s 10 members can prove to be of much help to the government in the House where the NDA is in minority.