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‘Congress Considered Impossible To Implement GST During Their Time,’ Says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

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New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hit out at the Congress party, stating that while the Congress once considered the Goods and Services Tax (GST) impossible to implement, the Modi government not only rolled it out successfully but is now advancing it with second-phase reforms to ease the burden on common people.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Sitharaman said, “Is the Congress Party demanding five per cent tax on tobacco and gutkha? Congress Party wants us to give it at 5%. Congress Party considered it impossible to implement GST during their time. We have implemented it and are also undertaking second-generation reforms under the leadership of Modi ji so that people get relief on their day-to-day items.”

Sitharaman highlighted that the ongoing GST reforms are benefiting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and labour-intensive industries by simplifying compliance. She urged the Congress to clarify its stance on measures that benefit the people.

“MSMEs and labour-intensive units also get relief, due to which there will be easy compliance. Congress should decide whether it wants to oppose or support issues that are in the interest of the people. People will expose you,” she added.

In a significant announcement, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman revealed a sweeping reduction in GST rates on a wide range of essential items, automobiles, agricultural inputs, and electronic appliances.

The 56th GST Council meeting decided to rationalise GST rates into two slabs: 5 per cent and 18 per cent by merging the previous 12 per cent and 28 per cent rates.

On the essential items front, products of daily household use will now cost less. Items such as hair oil, shampoo, toothpaste, toilet soap bars, toothbrushes, and shaving cream, which previously attracted an 18 per cent GST, will now fall under the 5 per cent bracket.

Furthermore, Sitharaman announced a complete removal of GST on individual health and life insurance.

The reforms also bring significant benefits to farmers and the agricultural sector. Tractor tyres and parts, which were earlier taxed at 18 per cent GST, will now be taxed at just 5 per cent. Tractors themselves will see their rate reduced from 12 per cent to 5 per cent.

(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/congress-considered-impossible-to-implement-gst-during-their-time-says-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman

India`s GST reforms ignite clash between PM Modi and Congress

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Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari on Monday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the latter’s speech on Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms implementation, suggesting that the PM should have issued an apology to the nation.

Accusing the Narendra Modi government at the centre of “looting” poor and middle-class citizens, Tiwari said that Congress and the opposition had been demanding only a single slab for GST, based on the idea of ‘One Nation, One Tax’.

“The question that needs to be asked is who increased the GST? Who put a burden on the country by increasing it for eight years? You (PM Modi) should have apologised to the nation yesterday. Congress and the Opposition had been demanding only one slab on the basis of ‘one nation, one tax’. However, you looted the poor and middle-class citizens,” Tiwari told ANI.

The Congress MP further attacked PM Modi for asking people to celebrate the GST rate rationalisation as a “festival”, saying that he was the one who imposed GST at midnight.

“Yesterday, the Prime Minister said that this is a festival. He said that we should celebrate because GST has been reduced. You imposed GST at 12:00 in the night in Parliament. You also talked similarly then. The people of this country have paid over Rs 50 lakh crore in GST. The MSMEs have almost shut down,” Tiwari said.

“Now, you (PM Modi) have the courage to ask people to celebrate the ‘Utsav’. Only you could have shown this courage. Your face was telling that your words lacked self-confidence and courage,” he added.

Meanwhile, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday said that GST reforms have brought a wave of happiness and celebration among people and can boost the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country by 0.8 per cent. The new GST reforms have come into force from today.

The minister said that the country’s path towards a Viksit Bharat goes through self-reliance.

“Apart from Navratri, the budget utsav has begun. There is a wave of happiness and celebration among people wherever you see. GST rates have been reduced, which will benefit all sections of society. But we are celebrating something else. These reforms can boost the GDP by 0.8%. Our path towards a Viksit Bharat goes through self-reliance. It has been welcomed by all sections of the society,” Puri told ANI.

He said all sections, particularly the lower middle class and economically weaker sections, will benefit because GST rates on various consumption items have been reduced.

He remarked that from the very first day of Navratri, the nation is taking a significant step forward in the Aatmanirbhar Bharat campaign.

The Prime Minister said that implementation of Next Generation GST reforms marks the beginning of a GST Bachat Utsav (Savings Festival) across India. He emphasised that this festival will enhance savings and make it easier for people to purchase their preferred items.

PM Modi noted that the benefits of this savings festival will reach the poor, middle class, neo middle class, youth, farmers, women, shopkeepers, traders, and entrepreneurs alike.

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https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/indias-gst-sparks-political-row-as-congress-pramod-tiwari-says-pm-modi-should-have-apologised-23595243