Rahul Gandhi propagating 'Grand Stupid Thought': PM Modi's reply on Congress's 'Gabbar Singh Tax' jibe

Pic Courtesy: @narendramodi

NEW DELHI: Continuing his campaign for the assembly polls in his home state Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday attacked Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for calling GST 'Gabbar Singh Tax' and said those who looted the country could only think of dacoits. 

"It is natural for those who have looted all their lives to remember dacoits. Under their ‘Grand Stupid Thoughts’ they want basic necessities of the poor to be taxed at 18%. At the same time, they want cigarettes and alcohol to be cheaper. What logic is this," Modi said in an address to a rally in Morbi, that goes to polls in the first phase on December 9.

Gandhi was propagating a "grand stupid thought" in the name of GST, telling people that Congress will scrap all tax rates and bring a uniform 18% rate, the PM said.

This meant 18% tax on salt and the same 18% tax on luxury cars costing Rs 5 crore, Modi stated.

"What kind of smartness is this... How has such an economist emerged here? You want to make the goods used by the poor like clothes, footwear and food costlier, and you want to make cigarettes and liquor cheaper," he said, ripping into the "anti-poor" Congress over its criticism of the tax reform.

The prime minister went on to say that making cigarettes cheaper means bringing cancer to every home and asked which rich businessmen the opposition leader sought to extend the benefit to by making liquor cheaper.

The Prime Minister also accused the Congress of blocking the bill giving OBC Commission a constitutional status.

Campaigning in his home state where the BJP is in power for close to two decades, Modi listed various development works by the state government for water conservation, agriculture and development of the Saurashtra region.

PM Modi also accused the Congress of taking credit for minor schemes like providing hand-pumps, while the BJP government got executed major works like the Narmada project.

Modi appealed to the voters of Gujarat to not let go of an opportunity where they could benefit from the rule of their man in Delhi. 

"It is the first time that you have got an opportunity of having your man sitting in Delhi. Do not let this opportunity slip away," he said.

He also brought up a visit by Rahul Gandhi's grandmother, the late Indira Gandhi, in 1979.

Recalling the Macchu dam flood tragedy of 1979 in Morbi, the prime minister said he had spent one month working in the town after the disaster as an RSS and Jan Sangh worker.

"I remember Indira Gandhi had come here and Chitralekha (a local magazine) had printed her photo with a handkerchief over her nose, trying to avoid the stench, while another photo on the same front page had RSS workers carrying bodies," Modi said.

"Those who have helped us in times of difficulties should be remembered," he added.