The BJP in government is an abject exercise of top class ineptness. On any issue irrespective of the valid merit of the suggestion or criticism that the government gets, the first reaction is denial and an attempt to deflect attention, the second is rebuttal and thirdly, determined stone-walling. The first is done just to give any response that takes away the attention from the issue. While the last is activated not with any conviction of greater knowledge or competence on the issue but filled with the arrogance because ‘they are the government and they cannot be wrong’. You can see this happening on the GST issue where a multiplicity of issues had been raised ranging from reducing the number of slabs of tax, to re-classification of items into the more correct slabs, glitches with the portal, the deadlines for filing returns, the problems faced by the textile, jewellery, household industry and the SSI sector. But then nothing was done on any of the issues but low and behold when the PM wanted the focus to shift to Gujarat what with the upcoming elections there, it was like a fairy appeared with her magic wand and what was beyond discussion became an active debating point.
The government also started making the right noises that the GST slabs would be reduced, the 28% tax items reviewed, more daily use items shifted to the nil or 5% slab and the export industry given concessions as well as relaxations for filing returns. Difficulties still remain and are compounded somewhat but at least a start has been made. Even the PM has said that the problems faced by the jewellery and handloom sectors that are important for Gujarat also will be resolved shortly. The point to all this is that if GST was an important reform for the economy why was it treated not as such and difficulties faced by the user segments not resolved expeditiously and why does an impending election to Gujarat have to bring the GST into full focus.
Elections happen randomly while dealing with the economy is a priority as well as a full time job which is where this government has been failing to judge issues correctly. This is more so now with the economy in bad shape. In fact the comment in most circles is that if the PM have done less circumnavigation of the globe and devoted himself to putting the economy back on the rails maybe we would not have been in this present position.
