Congress unleashed ‘loot tantra’ levying additional tax burden to loot people: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hit out at the Congress party over its criticism of GST reductions, alleging that “the Congress left no opportunity to loot people during its rule in the past.”

Addressing a public meeting in Jharsuguda, Odisha, after laying the foundation stone and inaugurating multiple development projects worth over Rs 60,000 crore, PM Modi highlighted the benefits of the recent GST rate cuts for various sections of people, terming the reforms a “Bachat Utsav” for the public.

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Criticising the Congress, the Prime Minister said, “In 2014, when the BJP came to power, we managed to bring the nation out of the ‘loot tantra’ triggered by the Congress.”

“Now the time has come for double income and double savings. During Congress rule, employees and businessmen earning Rs 2 lakh annually had to pay income tax. Today, under the BJP-led Central Government, there is no tax burden even if annual income rises to Rs 12 lakh,” he asserted.

The Prime Minister noted that the new GST reforms, implemented on September 22, have led to price cuts on several essential commodities, benefiting farmers, women, and students alike.

“When GST was first introduced, it eased the tax burden on the people. With the latest GST reform, citizens will pay around Rs 5,000–6,000 annually, compared to Rs 20,000–25,000 before 2014,” he said.

Citing the instance of Congress’s tax policies, PM Modi said that the Congress Government in Himachal Pradesh has levied additional tax on cement despite GST reductions,increasing the cost of constructing the house for citizens.

“While the BJP-led Central Government continues to extend tax rebates, the Congress-ruled States are intent on looting the people. Wherever Congress is in power, its sole intent is to exploit and loot people by additional tax burden,” he alleged.

The Prime Minister said, “The Congress always poses a stumbling block to Centre’s move to extend tax benefits to people. The citizens of the country should beware of Congress’s motives.”