Bhubaneswar: Modi government cannot brush aside opposition and impose any measure without proper discussion in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi today said after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Congress of holding back India's development march by stalling Parliament.
Criticising BJP for accusing Congress of blocking GST Bill, he said, "Parliament should function, but it needs discussion. It is not like RSS shakha. India is a country with diversity and not a closed system where decisions can be imposed."
"The BJP-led government must realise that Parliament is a forum for discussion and nothing can be imposed without allowing opposition to express its voice and views. It should not brush aside opposition," the Congress Vice President said during an interaction with mediapersons here.
He was speaking on a day Modi accused Congress of indulging in "negative politics", saying 40 MPs were "conspiring" and "blocking" parliamentary process, thereby holding back India's development march.
Claiming that the BJP leadership did not believe in consensus and discussion, Rahul Gandhi said the Modi Government expected Congress to function like a ruling party.
"Being an opposition party, Congress needs to express its views in Parilament as it represents the people and their voice. But, the BJP is not allowing us to present our voice," the AICC Vice-President said adding senior Congress leaders were prevented from placing their views on GST.
Maintaining that Congress had initiated GST, he said the GST bill has two-three fundamental shortcomings like the maximum tax slab of 25 per cent and the dispute resolution mechanism and there should be proper discussion to address these issues.
Stressing that getting GST bill passed and implementing are two different things, Gandhi said it would take at least two years to ensure proper implementation.
Asked about the winter session of Parliament, Gandhi said Congress defends the interests of the poor, weak, tribals, dalits, farmers and labourers and would continue to do so.
Brushing aside the question on possibility of his being elevated to the post of Congress President, he said, "The way I look at my job, it is to mobilise the party and give it strength and energy."