NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday slammed the central government over the goods and services tax (GST) and said that a simplified GST with a single tax rate would solve the problems of lakhs of businesses.
Citing the purported example of a restaurant owner of Coimbatore who reportedly apologised to Union Finance Minister Sitharaman over asking a question relating to GST, Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the government and claimed that when an owner of a small business asks for a simplified GST regime, his request is met with “arrogance” and “outright disrespect.”
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “When the owner of a small business, like Annapoorna restaurant in Coimbatore, asks our public servants for a simplified GST regime, his request is met with arrogance and outright disrespect. Yet, when a billionaire friend seeks to bend the rules, change the laws, or acquire national assets, Modi Ji rolls out the red carpet.”
The post added, “Our small business owners have already endured the blows of demonetization, an inaccessible banking system, tax extortion and a disastrous GST. The last thing they deserve is further humiliation. But when the fragile egos of those in power are hurt, it seems humiliation is exactly what they’ll deliver. MSMEs have been asking for relief for years. If this arrogant government would listen to the people, they would understand that a simplified GST with a single tax rate would solve the problems of lakhs of businesses.”
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also slammed the government and alleged the “disgraceful humiliation” of the Annapoorna restaurant owner shows the BJP’s “arrogance of power”
Taking it to a social media post on X, Mallikarjun Kharge wrote, “‘Tax Terror’ for Poor & Middle Class, while ‘Tax Cuts’ for Modi ji’s Crony Friends! The disgraceful humiliation of a small businessman, the owner of Sree Annapoorna restaurant in Coimbatore by the Finance Minister and the BJP, smacks of arrogance of power. She has been a repeated offender in such public interactions. The owner asked a genuine question about Modi Govt’s flawed GST and was first met with a condescending laugh by the FM and later forced to apologise to her on camera.”
Stressing the need for a “simple, uniform, moderate and rational GST on essential items”, Kharge said that MSMEs and small business owners are suffering from the “financial policies” of the central government.
The tweet added, “MSMEs and Small Business owners are suffering the brunt of Modi Govt’s repeated financial assaults in the form of a flawed GST and Demonetisation. BJP is only committed to benefit Modi ji’s large crony friends! From Day 1, the Congress party is saying that we need a Simple, Uniform, Moderate and Rational GST on essential items. In our 2024 Manifesto, we said, “Congress will replace the GST laws enacted by the BJP/NDA government with GST 2.0. The new GST regime will be based on the universally accepted principle that GST shall be a single, moderate rate (with a few exceptions) that will not burden the poor”. Congress party is strongly committed to this. BJP’s ‘Loot Small Owners & Shoot the Messenger’ policy spells a disaster for the Nation’s economy!”
Earlier, BJP leader K Annamalai apologised on behalf of the BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit for making the conversation between the restaurant owner and the Finance Minister public.
“On behalf of BJP Tamil Nadu, I sincerely apologise for the actions of our functionaries who shared a private conversation between a respected business owner and our Hon. FM. I spoke with Thiru Srinivasan, the esteemed owner of the Annapoorna chain of Restaurants, to express regret for this unintended breach of privacy. Annapoorna Srinivasan Anna is a pillar of Tamil Nadu’s business community, contributing significantly to the state’s and nation’s economic growth. I request everyone to lay the matter to rest with due respect,” he said.
