FM @nsitharaman ji, GST on essential items and food is draconian. Period. Your 14 tweet-thread can’t mask this truth. GST Council is recommendatory, why did you agree to the tax?Please stop blaming the states. Who brought the price rise proposal in the council?You did 1/10
Also you must explain why has the PM done a U-turn? Why did he take credit for making mass consumption items GST free in 2019 and is now imposing tax on the same items? Video for reference 2/10
How many people in India are buying food grains loose except in PDS outlets? Why should the poor, lower middle class be made to pay a higher price for buying labelled packaged food grains? Insensitive, ill conceived. 3/10
Ironically, this 5% tax won’t apply on food grains like pulses, cereals, rice, wheat, flour etc if the package is over 25 Kg or 25 litre. So essentially the poor and lower middle class who buy in smaller quantities will be taxed, the rich buying in bulk will be spared! Wah! 4/10
Shouldn’t packaging be encouraged for reasons of hygiene? Tax on mass consumption items is an elitist concept that encourages sale of unpackaged goods and disincentivises the poor to use hygienic packaged products. Elitist 5/10
Are there input taxes on lassi, paneer etc? No. So simply put, milk is not under GST but lassi & curd are bring taxed. They can’t claim input tax credit and will pass on the cost to consumers. Masterstroke huh? 6/10
It’s a sure shot recipe for complete wipe out of small traders, who have little access to tech and work on thin margins They’ll be hard pressed with stocks on hand. They should’ve been given at least 6 months, else they are immediately liable to penalisation 7/10
Madam FM, GST is a consumption tax on every Indian. What do you have to say about the cruel timing with CPI inflation over 7% and WPI over 15%. Also the free fall in the Rupee will only worsen inflation, and yet you impose taxes on food items? 8/10
You have an issue with opposition protesting against price rise? What is the opposition expected to do - we will raise the voice and concerns of the people both inside and out of parliament. In fact why is your govt running away from a debate on inflation in the house? 9/10
And madam Finance Minister, how is tax on artificial limbs and hospital beds justified? Will await another thread with half truth and full lies as you blame the states for it! Wonder what is the Union govt for if the states are responsible for everything? 10/10
