Viral Sach: Narendra Modi opposed GST as Gujarat CM?

NEW DELHI: Days after the pan-India Goods and Services Tax came into effect, an old video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi purportedly 'opposing' GST has gone viral on social media. In the undated video, PM Modi can be heard saying that the tax reform can never be successful. Social media users said Modi had criticized GST when it was proposed by Manmohan Singh-led UPA government at the Centre but now when he is the Prime Minister he hailed the tax reform. "When Modi was not in power, he was against GST but now he's boasting about it and taking credit that it is brought during his tenure, a Facebook post said. A day before GST came into effect, the Congress too on its official Twitter handle posted a similar video with a caption, “This is what Modi ji & the BJP really think of GST.” Fact Check The video that claimed Modi opposed the GST as Gujarat chief minister has been doctored. It dates back to 2011 when GST bill was first introduced by the then UPA government.  Modi, while talking about the GST, in an interview had said that GST cannot be successful without proper IT network setup. Modi had said that he in a meeting with the then Finance Minister Pranab Mukerjee discussed a lot with about the issue and told him that with a proper IT network GST can never be successful. Modi said Mukherjee had directed his personal secretary to set up a task force for IT backup.