By Special Correspondent
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee President Jeetu Patwari on Monday demanded that the Union government introduce a Goods and Services Tax (GST) refund mechanism similar to the existing system for income tax. He argued that consumers who had paid GST at the higher rate of 28 per cent in the current financial year should be refunded the excess amount following the recent reduction of rates, such as to 18 per cent.
Patwari criticised the Modi government, accusing it of turning GST into a “Gabbar Singh Tax” that burdened the poor and middle classes while benefitting large industrialists like Adani and Ambani. He alleged that the Centre has collected nearly ₹55 lakh crore through GST in recent years, but the reduction in rates was politically motivated, linked to upcoming elections rather than public welfare.
Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s vision, Patwari reiterated that GST should be simplified into a single slab to ease the financial strain on citizens. He particularly highlighted the need to address GST on agricultural machinery.
Concluding his remarks, he demanded that both the Centre and the state government ensure refunds of excess GST collected and urged Prime Minister Modi to apologise to the nation for imposing what he termed an undue financial burden on the poor.
