New Delhi, Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that the Government is contemplating to bring 99 per cent of goods at or under the 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) slab, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said “the Congress has jolted the PM from his deep slumber on the GST’.
‘’The Congress Party has finally jolted Narendra Modi Ji from his deep slumber on Gabbar Singh Tax. Though still drowsy, he now wants to implement what he had earlier called the Congress Party’s, “Grand Stupid Thought”.
Better late then never Narendra Ji!,’’Rahul said in a tweet.
The comment by Rahul was an apparent reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi having earlier termed the Congress demand for a one rate for GST as a ‘Grand Stupid Thought’.
However, addressing the Republic TV Summit in Mumbai on Tuesday, the PM indicated that the Government is contemplating to bring 99 per cent of goods at or under the 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) slab, while restricting the remaining one per cent of luxury items, like aircraft, expensive vehicles, liquor and cigarettes, to a GST slab above 18 per cent.
“I would like to tell you one important thing that we are heading towards a situation wherein we intend to bring 99 per cent of goods at or below the 18 per cent GST slab.
We intend to restrict the remaining one per cent of luxury items like the purchase of aircraft, expensive vehicles, liquor and cigarettes to above 18 per cent. Our intention is to make GST as simple as possible. I have already made this suggestion for placement before the next GST Council meeting,” Mr Modi said .
The Congress, reacting to the PM’s statement, had on Wednesday alleged that it was clearly made with an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.