Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], September 4 : Himachal Pradesh Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Jai Ram Thakur has hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to abolish the 12% and 18% Goods and Services Tax (GST) slabs, calling it a "historic step" that will bring relief to key sectors, including agriculture and healthcare.
Speaking to ANI in Shimla on Thursday, Thakur said, "First of all, I congratulate and welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this decision. As the Prime Minister mentioned in his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, the government was seriously considering GST reforms to provide relief. This step is historic. The most important aspect is that the 12% and 18% GST slabs have been completely removed. This is, in itself, a huge relief."
Thakur noted that two sectors that would benefit the most are agriculture and health.
He said, "In the agriculture sector, almost all tractor tools and equipment that previously had a 12% GST tariff have been reduced to 5%. This is a significant reduction and will be a major relief for farmers. In the health sector, especially generic medicines, almost all have been brought under the 0% tax category. Health insurance has also been brought down to 0%. Serious illnesses such as cancer and thalassemia have been excluded from special tax categories, providing significant relief," he said.
The BJP leader further added that daily-use items had also been brought under lower GST brackets.
"Bread is now at 0%, edible oils at 5%. Middle-class essentials like shampoo, hair oil, toothpaste, and bread have all seen reductions. The Prime Minister's efforts are also aimed at promoting the expansion of indigenous products within India. Through GST, this is strengthening the 'Make in India' initiative and is a key step towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat. I welcome this decision and congratulate the Prime Minister," Thakur said, adding that even GST critics would find it difficult to oppose such reforms now.
"People across the country are welcoming this decision. For states like Himachal Pradesh, where 80% of the population is dependent on farming and horticulture, this will be a big contribution. It will also provide significant relief in the health sector," he said.
Meanwhile, amid the ongoing devastation caused due to monsoons in the state, Thakur said that the entire state had been declared disaster-hit.
"The monsoon session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly has concluded, and a resolution was passed to declare Himachal a national disaster state. We welcomed that resolution. Initially, the disaster impact was concentrated in Mandi district and my Seraj constituency, but gradually it has spread to all districts and almost every assembly constituency," he said.
Thakur pointed to the severe loss of life and property during the Manimahesh Yatra in Chamba district.
"Communication systems are still not fully restored there. International tourist destinations like Kullu-Manali are cut off. I checked today and the roads are still closed. My own constituency has suffered major damage, and Mandi district has also been badly affected. It will take time to recover from this, but the government must take immediate steps for relief, especially repairing damaged circuits during apple season. If the crop cannot reach the fruit markets, orchardists will suffer huge losses," he warned.
Thakur stressed the urgent need to deliver essential supplies to remote and cut-off areas. "Many areas still cannot be reached by road, even for ration supplies. From my constituency to Chamba, there are messages that ration is running out because the roads are broken. Wherever possible, helicopters should be used for relief operations," he said.
He described his own attempts to travel to affected regions.
"From here to Mandi, the road is fine. But beyond that, towards Tachi and Bali Chowki, the routes are blocked. In Kullu, especially in Akhara Bazaar, many people have been affected, some trapped, and there is even a report of one death. Yesterday, in Sundernagar's Nachan constituency, six people died. Incidents like this are deeply concerning," the BJP leader stated.