BC Welfare and Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar launched a scathing attack on the BJP, asserting that the party has financially exploited the poor for eight years through what he termed the ‘Gabbar Singh Tax,’ or GST. He accused them of now staging a ‘drama’ by presenting recent GST rate adjustments as a public service.
Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Tuesday, the Minister pointed out that the Central government is now attempting to take credit for lowering some GST rates to 5% or 18%. However, he highlighted that before these adjustments, the prices of essential goods had already surged dramatically. He stated, “The cost of salt jumped from ₹10 to ₹20, dal from ₹60 to ₹160, and edible oil from ₹70 to ₹160.” Prabhakar further alleged that the BJP had taxed basic meals for the underprivileged more heavily than gourmet food served in luxury hotels. He concluded that the GST system has primarily burdened the common people and small businesses, while paradoxically benefiting the wealthy. He even noted that fundamental necessities and funeral services had been subjected to GST.
Referencing Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s recent announcement that the Centre collected a staggering ₹22 lakh crore in just six months from GST, Mr. Ponnam argued that this figure serves as undeniable evidence of the government’s aggressive taxation of ordinary citizens.
Mr. Prabhakar emphasized that Telangana state is facing annual losses of approximately ₹7,000 crore due to the GST regime. He reminded that when GST was first implemented, the Union government had assured states that it would cover their revenue losses for a decade. However, he lamented that this promise remains unfulfilled, pushing Telangana into a difficult financial situation. He urged Union ministers from Telangana, G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay, to provide clear explanations on how the state’s financial setbacks would be remedied. He asserted, “They need to advocate for Telangana in Delhi instead of remaining silent.”