In Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel fired sharp criticism at the Central government on Tuesday, claiming it has been “looting” people through flawed Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates for the past eight years. He argued that these wrong GST rates crushed businesses and squeezed ordinary people’s incomes, leaving families struggling with rising prices.
Baghel pointed out the irony in the government’s “One Nation One Tax” slogan. “They promised simplicity but ended up with five complicated slabs,” he told reporters. “For eight years, businesses got wiped out, incomes stayed low, and now they’re finally admitting prices have skyrocketed.”
The Congress leader didn’t hold back on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) either, accusing them of recycling old promises on job creation and business support. He even took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to revisit his past speeches. “They said GST would tame inflation back then, and they’re saying the same now—eight years later. That’s no grasp of the economy,” Baghel said. He questioned the real impact of the latest GST rate rationalisation, now in effect: “How much will people actually save? Just Rs 115 a month per person? They talk big about Rs 2 lakh crore going to 40 crore people, but what good is Rs 115?”
This new GST reform, greenlit at the 56th GST Council meeting earlier this month and kicking off on September 22, simplifies things by cutting the five slabs down to two. It also slaps a hefty 40% tax on luxury and sin goods to target high-end spending. That includes tobacco, pan masala, cigarettes, bidis, aerated sugary drinks, plus luxury vehicles, powerful motorcycles over 350cc, yachts, and even helicopters.
On a brighter note, the changes are sparking some consumer perks. Across India, a GST Bachat Utsav is underway, with automobile companies passing on savings from lower rates on select cars and two-wheelers straight to buyers. As families hunt for deals amid these GST updates, many hope it eases the pinch from years of economic strain.
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