New Delhi, Sept 22 (UNI) As the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reform rolled out across the country on Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) described it as an “Economic Diwali” for the people of India, while taking a sharp swipe at the Opposition—particularly the Congress—accusing them of making lofty promises without action during their tenure.
Describing it as the “most ambitious and people-centric GST reform till date,” Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at a press conference here declared that a new era of savings has begun for the common man. “The move reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of economic justice and inclusive growth. With this historic decision, prices of almost all essential household goods have come down. It is nothing short of an Economic Diwali for the people of India,” Vaishnaw said.
He further claimed that citizens across the country are celebrating this reform, which has directly brought down the cost of living. “From every corner of Bharat, we are receiving reports of happiness among the masses,” he said.
The Minister also took aim at the Opposition, saying, “Instead of appreciating this historic step, Opposition leaders are sulking. This is not surprising — during their regime, there were tall claims but no action on ground.”
To underscore the impact of the reform, Vaishnaw shared comparative figures of the UPA-era tax rates versus the current NDA regime, illustrating the dramatic reduction in GST on daily-use items:
As per the presentation, cement was taxed at 30 percent which is now reduced to 18 percent under NDA while sanitary pads, previously taxed at 13 percent, are now at 0 percent. Similarly, footwear tax has dropped from 18 percent to just 5 percent while refrigerators saw a reduction from 30 percent to 18 percent.
At the same time, detergents, once taxed at 30 percent will invite GST at the lesser rate ie 5 percent.
The BJP leader also elaborated on the economic impact of the reform, stating that our country’s GDP is currently Rs 330 lakh crore. “Out of this, Rs 202 lakh crore accounts for domestic consumption. Last year, in 2023–24, it was Rs 181 lakh crore — showing a growth of around 12 percent. With this GST reform, we expect domestic consumption to rise by an additional Rs 20 lakh crore, giving a strong push to the economy.”
