Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], September 22 : Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Monday took a sharp dig on Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav over the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, asserting that the opposition leaders' decision to oppose the move was "foolishness" and "negative politics".
The deputy chief minister stressed that the benefits to 140 crore people due to GST savings can be seen neither by Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, nor Tejashwi Yadav.
While speaking to ANI on the opposition's stand, the Deputy Chief Minister said, "There are leaders like Akhilesh Yadav, Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav who have to oppose even something which is good. The benefits to 140 crore people due to GST savings can be seen neither by Rahul Gandhi nor Akhilesh Yadav or Tejashwi Yadav... They cannot welcome it but opposing a decision that will benefit 140 crore people of the country is foolishness and negative politics."
Reacting to his upcoming visit to Russia, the Deputy Chief Minister hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he (Maurya) would make every effort to meet the trust and expectations placed in him.
"I consider this a highly fortunate moment in my life when PM Modi gave me the opportunity to take Lord Buddha's remains and life messages there...He has placed great trust in me. I would make every effort to ensure that I meet the trust and expectations placed in me. An exhibition related to Lord Buddha was organised in Mongolia, Vietnam and Thailand, by India, by taking his holy remains there. We are going to do this in Kalmykia, Russia. This is a major step towards giving a form to the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam..." Maurya said.
A day earlier, the Deputy Chief Minister praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech on the implementation of next-generation GST reforms on Sunday, stating that the GST budget festival has arrived and that the poor can now purchase expensive items.
"First, one nation, one tax GST was implemented. Now, the GST budget festival has arrived. The poor can also buy expensive things because they no longer have to pay the price they had to pay before. Prime Minister Modi has called for adopting Swadeshi. The Swadeshi movement was started by the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. This will lead to a self-reliant and developed India," Maurya told ANI.
Meanwhile, the reform in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure was approved during the 56th meeting of the GST Council earlier this month.
The current four-rate system will now be replaced with a streamlined two-slab regime of 5 per cent and 18 per cent. A separate 40 per cent slab has been retained for luxury and sin goods.
This new framework is expected to ease compliance, reduce consumer prices, boost manufacturing, and support a wide range of industries, from agriculture to automobiles and from FMCG to renewable energy, and is intended to lower the cost of living, strengthen MSMEs, widen the tax base, and drive inclusive growth.