'Hates suits but loves gold' - Arun Jaitley takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi

Delhi:  Taking a jibe at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Thursday that he could not understand the politics of hatred for (a) 'suit' but love for gold.

Jaitley said in Parliament today, "I am unable to understand this politics, this economics where you hate suits but are in love with gold."

Rahul Gandhi was not in House when the FM made the comments.

The Congress VP has opposed the government's reintroduction of a sales tax on gold  jewellery.

He had also supported jewellers who had gone on strike to protest the excise duty of one percent on gold and diamond  jewellery.

Last year, Rahul had taken a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the Prime Minister had worn suit with his initials during US President Barack Obama's India visit.

Rahul had then made the infamous 'a suit-boot government' comment.

Meanwhile, replying to the discussion on the Finance Bill 2016 in the Lok Sabha, Jaitley today ruled out withdrawal of the 1 per cent excise duty on non-silver jewellery.

However, he added that the duty was not targeted at small traders and artisans but would be levied only on jewellers with Rs 12 crore turnover in a year. 

At the same time, Jaitley said if the Congress had objections to the levy of one per cent excise duty on jeweller, it can begin by removing the 5 percent VAT on bullion in Kerala where it rules.

(With PTI inputs)