Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal on Sunday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking credit for recent GST rate reductions, while allegedly ignoring the burden placed on citizens during the past eight years, reported the PTI.
In a statement, Sapkal accused the Prime Minister of overseeing “economic loot” since the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017, and said that PM Modi must take full responsibility for the impact it had on industries, traders, and the common man.
“It was the PM himself who introduced exorbitantly high GST rates in 2017. Over these years, collections have doubled to Rs 22 lakh crore, putting pressure on consumers and small businesses. If he takes credit for rate cuts today, he must also accept responsibility for the economic suffering over the past eight years,” said Sapkal, according to the PTI.
He recalled that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had previously called GST the “Gabbar Singh Tax” and had consistently demanded relief measures.
Sapkal also pointed out that petrol and diesel prices remain high, yet the Prime Minister chose not to address them during his national speech.
In his national address on Sunday evening, PM Modi had referred to the reforms as the beginning of a ‘GST Bachat Utsav’ (Savings Festival) and tied them to the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and promotion of Swadeshi (Made-in-India) goods.
However, Sapkal criticised this approach, saying, “Modi preaches swadeshi while using foreign-made cars, watches, pens, and phones. If this is being called a savings festival, then what were the past eight years – a loot festival?”, as per the PTI.
He further claimed that the PM’s speech lacked “enthusiasm and confidence”, perhaps reflecting growing public dissatisfaction, including popular slogans like “vote chor, gaddi chhod” (vote stealer, vacate the chair) being heard across the country.
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant also raised questions about the PM’s past, pointing out that PM Modi had opposed the GST when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat.
“If Rahul Gandhi’s advice had been accepted earlier, wouldn’t India’s economy be in a better position today?” Sawant wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
He also took aim at the Maharashtra government, highlighting that Minister Pratap Sarnaik had recently purchased a Tesla car in the presence of CM Devendra Fadnavis.
“That Tesla wasn’t made in India nor does it have the sweat of our people. If BJP leaders don’t practise what the PM preaches, how can the public be expected to?” Sawant questioned.
He added that with India’s trade deficit and current account deficit still high, complete self-reliance through swadeshi products may not be immediately practical.
(with PTI inputs)
