When Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani on Sunday cited a news report to claim that the recently implemented Goods and Services Tax was actually helping job growth, Twitter users erupted with hilarity.

Since its implementation on July 1, the journey of the GST, envisioned an umbrella levy to replace all indirect taxes, has been rocky. Small and medium enterprises, especially, have been struggling to comprehend the complicated tax regime with multiple slabs. They have faced technical glitches and a massive working capital crunch. This has slowed an economy that was already lagging after the November 2016 demonetisation of high-currency notes.

But Irani chose to celebrate an unintended consequence of the move: that it has come as a boon to the chartered accountants.

GST brings jobs boom for Indian CAs

https://t.co/pvTNsz70kE



via NMApp pic.twitter.com/bkMX4eYviV — Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) December 17, 2017

Though the report in question was talking about how GST had boosted the international demand for Indian chartered accountants, now well-versed with a new tax system, Twitter users took this as an opportunity to point out the many shortcomings of the system and its implementation closer home.

Here are some reactions.

That's like saying a major Earthquake led to a boom in construction jobs. — Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) December 17, 2017

Smriti Irony — Yasbardhan (@yavvee) December 17, 2017

Smriti Irony — Yasbardhan (@yavvee) December 17, 2017 https://twitter.com/yavvee/status/942396652798775296

Yeah, and dengue outbreaks are awesome for private hospitals. — rohit negi (@rikshaa) December 17, 2017

Terrorists killing people brings jobs boom for cemetery workers 🚩🚩👏🙏https://t.co/ocRvVMTbzR — AnyCommonMan (@AnyCommon_Man) December 17, 2017

Yes, same way like accidents creates business for hospitals, fires create for fire station or a flood creates jobs for NDRF team.



Can't belive you just said this. Don't ever delete this thread. — آمین Ameen (@knameen) December 18, 2017

Plz resign , it will increase 1 post in Indian cabinet (Job Boom) — फैन नहीं मतदाता बनिए (@BeVoterNotFan) December 17, 2017

Others pointed out that the BJP was overlooking many difficulties the regime had caused to small traders, while celebrating how it had benefited an already affluent class.

Currently all tax authorities and CAs r making hay while the sun shines. This govt has decided that all traders and businessmen r thieves and constant scrutiny on them is needed — BLuE^FeAThErED^PhAnToM (@bluephantom7) December 17, 2017

Yes great job booms for Indian CA and now make some law where family dispute or business dispute increases to give jobs to Advocate and when are you creating jobs for rowdy at cost of small trader n businessman — Ajay kumar Khemka (@Ajaykumar00009) December 17, 2017

Many wondered why Irani was celebrating news that validated claims that the GST in its current form was far too complex for the common taxpayer.

Taxes should be easy to file and understand. More CAs jobs means more complex system which require complexity to be dealt at human level. It is not a good news which is being shared. — 🇮🇳 😎irdman (@0birdman) December 17, 2017

Not really a thing to be happy about. CAs are in demand for resolving complexities arising from GST. And who is responsible for the complexities? — Abhijit Deshmukh (@Abhi_M_Deshmukh) December 17, 2017

Which only means that GST is complicated and small traders now has to also pay CAs and are at their mercy for interpretation of complex law — प्रियंका (@pandey_priyanka) December 17, 2017

Of course, there were also those who found in this an opportunity to revive digs on Irani’s educational qualifications, which the minister has been opaque about. Some users highlighted the six-day course she did at Yale, after which the Union minister had claimed that she had a degree from the prestigious university.

Fake degree brings Jobs boom for BJP — Sachin methre (@Sachinmethre2) December 17, 2017