Sambit Patra lambasts Congress over GST reforms

BJP leader Sambit Patra on Thursday criticised the Congress, saying it (the party) has become the “new” Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which attacks constitutional institutions without any proof.

Talking to media persons here, Patra asked the Congress party to hold a press briefing on the GST reforms and tell whether the farmers are benefiting from the step or not. “Congress party should hold a press conference on #GSTReforms today and tell whether or not this has benefited farmers, families?. Their press conferences make no difference. They abuse some institutions without evidence, talk of “vote chori” without facts, and speak only on television. Congress is becoming like the Aam Aadmi Party, more on the television and less on the ground…Congress party has turned into Aam Aadmi Party,” he added.

Advertisement

He further said that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms are not only a matter of huge change but also a bundle of happiness. “This is not just a reform, this is a huge change and a bundle of happiness. ‘Modi hai toh mumkin hai.’ Those who thought this was impossible, it is time for them to think,” Sambit Patra told reporters.

He lauded the Union government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for implementing the GST in 2017, stating that it could not have been done in the previous governments. He noted that the GST would be an example of “Ease of Doing Business”. Small businesses have got the biggest benefit from it. “Remember, GST was implemented in 2017. Previous governments could not implement it, but the Modi government implemented it. Today, any new business can be registered in just 3 days. This is an example of “Ease of Doing Business”. Small businesses have got the biggest benefit from it,” he said.

He mentioned that the tractors will become cheaper due to the GST reforms stating that the farmer who bore the burden of the tractor for 75 years will now feel relieved.

Patra noted that a bicycle, which is a sign of reward for a child in a middle-class family, will also become cheap following the GST reforms.

“I feel as if the farmer drove a tractor on the road and left all his old taxes at the turn of the road. The farmer who bore the burden of the tractor for 75 years is now feeling real relief. The farmer bore the burden of taxes for years, but now a turning point has come where he has got relief. Imagine, when the farmer in the village feels that the tractor has become cheaper, when the child in the house is happy that now he can get a bicycle, and when the middle class family feels that their small car or motorcycle has now become affordable – how much happiness comes in their life,” the BJP leader said.

The 56th GST council meeting decided to rationalise GST rates to two slabs of 5 per cent and 18 per cent by merging the 12 per cent and 28 per cent rates.