PM Modi slams the opposition on GST, saying Congress took different taxes on various things

PM Modi said that Congress even taxed children’s toffees.

Prime Minister NarendraModi, while speaking on the rationalization of the Goods and Services Tax Today, attacked the opposition Congress, pointing out that they taxed everything. He said that Congress taxed even daily essentials, food and medicine.

PM Modi slammed the opposition for taxing people even on daily essentials.

The rationalization was criticized by Congress, which called it eight years too late. It has also questioned what prompted this sudden move, speculating about multiple issues, including the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar and the 50 per cent tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump. PM Modi gave a sharp reply to this, pointing out the items of daily use that had steep tax, “Before I came in 2014, whether it was kitchen utensils or agricultural things, or medicines, and even life insurance, the Congress government took different taxes on such various things.”

What did PM Modi say about the steep tax prices during Congress time?

He said, “Toothpaste, soap, hair oil – 27% tax on them. 18 to 28 per cent tax on food plates, cup plates, spoons. Tooth powder — 17% tax…  The condition was that the Congress people used to take 21% tax on children’s toffees. Sewing machine — for lakhs and lakhs of mothers and sisters, it is a means of self-respect and self-employment. 16 per cent tax was imposed on this.” He added that the Congress made building houses difficult, imposing a 29 per cent tax on cement and made it “very difficult for the middle class to travel”, with 14 per cent tax on hotel rooms. Air conditioners, television, fan-all such items carried a tax of 31 per cent.

PM Modi further said, “Before 2014, the farmer’s farm was more expensive and the profit was very less. The reason was that the Congress government used to collect a lot of tax on the agricultural goods.” The rationalization of GST that was announced yesterday by the GST Council, brought down the four existing tax slabs to two, 5% and 18%. Taxes on multiple items including food, medicines, essential items, farm goods, green energy, small cars, and bikes have been slashed.