BJP President J. P. Nadda on Thursday praised the recent GST reforms as a "significant gift" from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to citizens ahead of festive occasions like Durga Puja and Diwali. He criticised the Congress party for its contradictory stance, pointing out that Rahul Gandhi opposes decisions supported by finance ministers of Congress-ruled state governments.

Nadda emphasised that all GST Council decisions are made unanimously, highlighting the consensus-driven approach. He accused the Congress-led UPA government of failing to implement the Goods and Services Tax due to a lack of trust from states. Instead, he claimed, the UPA burdened citizens and traders with Value Added Tax (VAT), which enabled tax evasion.

In contrast, the Modi government introduced GST in 2017, realising the vision of 'one nation, one tax', Nadda said. The GST Council announced sweeping reforms on Wednesday, eliminating the 28% and 12% tax slabs and retaining only two slabs: 5% and 18%. Many essential items are now tax-free, with significant reductions on other products.

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Referencing PM Modi’s Independence Day speech, Nadda noted that these reforms align with the prime minister’s vision. He said the changes would enhance citizens' living standards and simplify business for traders and small enterprises. "Our government prioritises improving lives over mere revenue collection," Nadda stated, adding that the reforms would strengthen the economy and inspire optimism.

Nadda, also the Union Health Minister, highlighted the removal of GST on health and life insurance premiums as a key measure to bolster financial and health security. He said the reforms would benefit diverse sectors, from agriculture to construction and healthcare, reflecting PM Modi’s commitment to impactful relief measures.

Nadda commended Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who chairs the GST Council, and state finance ministers for their role in these decisions.

Also Read: Congress Leader Calls GST Reforms a Belated U-Turn