The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recently asserted that the latest Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms have brought considerable relief to the populace through reduced commodity prices. The party also seized the opportunity to critique the Congress, suggesting the opposition’s ongoing demands stem from their understanding that only Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration can fulfill proposals that are genuinely in the public interest.
Addressing the Congress’s accusations that the Prime Minister is unilaterally claiming credit for GST rate cuts—decisions that involve the GST Council comprising various states—BJP MP and national spokesperson Sambit Patra extended a pointed invitation. He stated that the opposition party is welcome to erect banners and hoardings ‘thanking’ PM Modi for the reforms, should they genuinely perceive public contentment.
Patra emphasized a prevailing ‘atmosphere of festivity’ across the nation, attributing it to the GST rate reductions that have led to notable price decreases for a range of items, including vehicles, electronics, and medicines. Speaking at a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, he declared, ‘People are happy,’ citing media reports and positive feedback gathered by NDA leaders and ministers during their recent market visits.
In response to the Congress’s characterization of the latest GST reforms as ‘limited, inadequate, and too late,’ coupled with calls for the government to tackle other issues, Patra accused the Congress of having imposed ’17 types of taxes for 75 years’ during its time in power, failing to ‘streamline’ the system to benefit citizens.
He underscored that the ‘one nation, one tax’ regime only became a reality under BJP leadership. ‘The Congress also presents demands to us. They sought firm action after the Pahalgam incident… They understand that only this government will implement decisive measures. They can continue to make demands; we have no objection. Modi ji will fulfill all their demands that serve the public good,’ Mr. Patra added.
When questioned about the Congress accusing Prime Minister Modi of taking ‘sole ownership’ of the recent GST reforms, Patra retorted, ‘They also wish to claim credit for GST reforms? They are free to do so. We have not prevented Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Jairam Ramesh, or the Congress from claiming credit.’
He concluded, ‘We have already distributed hoardings, banners, and their designs. They too can display their own banners and hoardings, proclaiming, ‘Thank you Modi ji,’ and assert their claim… This is not a dispute over credit. People are content. If the Congress also acknowledges this public satisfaction, they should join in by putting up their own banners and hoardings.’