Rajnath decries UPA, promises uniform VAT

Lucknow, Nov 18 (UNI) Dubbing UPA government at the Centre as 'anti-traders', BJP president Rajnath Singh today said the party would implement uniform Value Added Tax (VAT) rates in the country on coming to power.

Claiming that BJP led-National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was poised to regain power at the Centre in the coming Lok Sabha election, he said his party was the only sympathiser of the trader community. ''No other party than BJP has initiated welfare measures for this community,'' Mr Singh said, while addressing Vyaparai Hunkar rally here.

Mr Singh further said Atal Bihari Vajpayee government would always be remembered for its pro-traders demeanour.

Coming down heavily upon the UPA government, the BJP president said the present Congress regime would be marked for spiralling price rise, blackmarketing of essential commodities.

It was for everyone to observe that whenever Congress government was at the Centre, the inflation has always gone up, he charged adding, ''it clearly suggests the vested interest of the leaders within the Congress.'' More, reminding the gathering about the achievements of the Vajpayee government, he said the interest rates on the commercial loans had come down to single digit during that time, while it were touching 15 per cent now.

UNI SB JAS KK ND1730