BJP studying abolition of taxes, says Gadkari

Former BJP president and party incharge for preparing a vision document for 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Nitin Gadkari has said that a proposal for abolition of all taxes, except customs duty was under discussion in party circles.

Speaking at a trade and industry conference in Chandigarh on Wednesday, Gadkari said: "The tax revenue of the country is Rs 14 lakh crore. If we abolish these taxes and apply around 2 per cent transaction tax, then we will get annual revenue to the tune of Rs 40,000 lakh crore."

He claimed that issues like fake currency, river linking, power, road transport, policing, judicial reforms, agriculture, etc, will be part of the party's vision document for 2025.

Gadkari claimed that the Congress-led UPA government was the problem plaguing the country. "There is no problem in the system. The problem is with the driver," Gadkari said, while referring to the much-maligned policy paralysis.

"I fail to understand, we go to the best doctor, we employ the best driver, but we vote on the lines of caste, religion and other factors," Gadkari said.

He claimed that country had one of the highest inflation rates in the world and the GDP which was 8.5 per cent during the NDA regime had come down to 4.5 per cent under the leadership of economist prime minister, Manmohan Singh.

"At this point, if awards are given for inflation, corruption and a corrupt political party, we would win them all," he alleged.

BJP party incharge of Chandigarh affairs, Aarti Mehra, Punjab industries minister Madan Mohan Mittal, local BJP chief, Sanjay Tandon, and former MPs Satya Pal Jain and Harmohan Dhawan were present.

Targets Chandigarh MP Bansal but not by name

The former BJP president, targeted the local MP and former railways minister Pawan Kumar Bansal twice in his speech. Gadkari started that the people were upset with the government.

"With the kind of governance prevailing, only a mama-bhanja pair can be happy," he said, referring to the railgate scandal allegedly involving Pawan Bansal and his nephew Vijay Singla. He concluded his address by saying: "Mama -Bhanje ko Chwayanprash mat khilao." This is being interpreted as advice to the public not to elect the corrupt.

First Published: Dec 25, 2013 22:43 IST