Howrah: Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Wednesday chided the Trinamool Congress for disrupting the functioning of the Rajya Sabha, alleging that the party was doing it because its leaders were getting caught in the Saradha chit fund scam.
"They (Trinamool) said that since some of our people have been caught in a chit fund scandal, the political answer is that we will not allow Parliament to run. Non-functioning of Parliament has a direct relationship with the involvement of persons of a political party in chit fund," Jaitley told a meeting of BJP traders cell here.
In a strong message to the Opposition who had disrupted the Rajya Sabha, he said, "Whether the Rajya Sabha runs or not the country will not stop."
Stating that the problem of Trinamool Congress with the BJP was not a political one, he said, "Their problem is that those who were involved in corruption are being exposed by the CBI."
He said, "Had it been anyone from our party, what we would have done? We would have told him to prove himself innocent. We would have said our party has nothing to do with it, law will take its own course. But their party has accepted those corrupt people," he alleged.
Jaitley also criticised TMC for its opposition to the introduction of GST, and said that the party had supported the single-window taxation system in its election manifesto.
"If you are supporting it then continue to support it. At least this has got nothing to do with Saradha," Jaitley said taking a dig on the party.
He said that West Bengal would benefit most with the introduction of GST. "We have also assured that even if the tax revenue is a rupee less, we will compensate for it".
Pointing out that states like West Bengal will benefit from the GST and coal auctions, he appealed to MPs from the state to support the Centre on these two issues.
Unsparing in his criticism of the communists, Jaitley said that their ideology did not find any relevance now anywhere in the world, adding that in the Rajya Sabha there existed a "coalition between the Trinamool Congress and communist parties".
"One is new Left and another is old Left. That is the only difference between them," he said adding that it was, however, favourable for the BJP state leadership.
Today the political space in the state, which is against the TMC, belonged to the BJP, he asserted.
On yesterday's stock market crash, Jaitley said, "What happened in the stock market yesterday happened because of Europe. That is why after America, investors from all over the world have queued up to look at India".
Pointing out that besides the US, economies of all other countries are facing challenges, he said, "We have to strengthen our economy enough so that people from all over the world come and invest here."
"But it will not happen if our policies are not strong. That is why ever since the Modi government was formed, we have taken the process of reforms one after the other," the minister said.
Explaining the rationale behind the introduction of GST, Jaitley said the one-window taxation system will reduce corruption and tax evasion, make products cheaper, simplify the tax payment process and ensure seamless transfer of goods from one state to another.
On coal block auction, the finance minister said that coal-rich states like West Bengal, Jharakhand and Odisha would benefit the most from this as they decided to divide the revenue from auction into two parts.
"One part will go in providing cheap electricity to people and the other part will go to states," he said.
