‘Anti-Household, Regressive’: Rahul Gandhi, Sitaram Yechury Slam GST Hike

After its 47th meeting, the GST Council decided to hike tax rates on a dozen goods and services.

After the GST Council on Wednesday, 29 June, during its 47th meeting decided to hike tax rates on a dozen goods and services, the proposed surge drew flak from across the political spectrum.

From 18 July, goods and services including unbranded food items will witness a tax surge while services like truck rentals and ropeways will witness a tax decline.

While some politicians have called it an 'apocalypse for households', others have called it 'anti-environmental'.

'Apocalypse For Households': Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi said that amid declining income and employment, inflation continues to increase. "The Prime Minister's Gabbar Singh Tax has now become the Grihasti Sarvanash Tax (Household Apocalypse Tax)," he added.

घटती आमदनी और रोज़गार,
ऊपर से महंगाई का बढ़ रहा प्रहार

प्रधानमंत्री जी का ‘गब्बर सिंह टैक्स’ अब ‘गृहस्थी सर्वनाश टैक्स’ का विकराल रूप ले चुका है। pic.twitter.com/9WNqox5fK2

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 29, 2022

Kerala's former finance minister and Central Committee of Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s member Thomas Isaac called the GST hikes for household items and solar panels regressive and anti-environmental. "GST must comply with the canon of equity," he added.

The hike in GST rates for household items is regressive. Hike in rates of solar systems and LED is anti environmental. The right approach would be to increase the rates on luxury goods and restore the initial 28% slab.GST must comply with the canon of equity.

— Thomas Isaac (@drthomasisaac) June 30, 2022

Former Karnataka CM and Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah pointed out that this would "adversely impact" the farmers, students, newspapers, poor and the middle class people.

"This hike will destroy the spending power of common man," he added.

The decision taken by the #GSTCouncil to hike taxes for various goods & services will adversely impact farmers, students, newspapers, and poor & middle class people.

At a time when ppl are bearing the brunt of inflation, this hike will destroy spending power of common man.#GST

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) June 29, 2022

He also called for the rollback the GST hike.

This is the time to reduce taxes and alleviate the stress due to inflation.

We strongly demand the @FinMinIndia to rollback the hike in GST.#GST

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) June 29, 2022

'Truth Gallops Out': Yechury

Meanwhile, amid the spiralling political crisis in Maharashtra, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while announcing the changes in tax structures, said that GST will now be applicable on "horsetrading". Her 'Freudian slip' hasn't escaped political attention either.

CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, took a swipe at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for letting the "truth" out about horsetrading.

Truth gallops out?
GST on horse trading!
Please go ahead. https://t.co/X87hsx1iB2

— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) June 29, 2022

Congress incharge for internal communications Dr Vineet Punia said that GST on horsetrading would be a welcome move.

We welcome @nsitharaman ji’s proposal to impose GST on #HorseTrading.

But Hon’ble PM & HM may not allow this anti-BJP tax. 😃 https://t.co/dQaVNz7MaQ

— Dr Vineet Punia / विनीत पुनिया (@VineetPunia) June 30, 2022

Meanwhile, another Congress member gave a breakdown of the tax structure, if GST is imposed on horsetrading.