Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], September 4 : Union Minister Giriraj Singh has alleged that Mamata Banerjee's government in West Bengal is working to "turn Bengal into Bangladesh" and to remain in power by "appeasing" Muslims.
Speaking to reporters in Kolkata, Singh said, "Bengal is no longer for the common people. All their (TMC and Mamata Banerjee) work is ongoing to turn Bengal into Bangladesh and remain in power on the strength of Muslims."
Earlier in August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government and Congress for the "appeasement" politics and said they are "encouraging infiltration only for the greed of power."
Addressing a public gathering in Kolkata, PM Modi urged people to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the assembly polls next year to get rid of infiltrators.
He said the BJP will not allow infiltrators to take away the jobs and torture women.
Meanwhile, Giriraj Singh welcomed the recent GST reforms and hailed Prime Minister Modi for giving relief to the middle-class people in every sector.
Singh said, "Finance ministers of Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee had opposed GST. But for the middle-class people, PM Modi has given relief in every sector for the common people of the country."
The 56th GST council meeting decided to rationalise GST rates to two slabs of 5 per cent and 18 per cent by merging the 12 per cent and 28 per cent rates.
5% slab consists of essential goods and services, including food and kitchen item like butter, ghee, cheese, dairy spreads, pre-packaged namkeens, bhujia, mixtures, and utensils; agricultural equipment like drip irrigation systems, sprinklers, bio-pesticides, micronutrients, soil preparation machines, harvesting tools, tractors, and tractor tires; handicrafts and small industries like sewing machines and their parts and health and wellness like medical equipment and diagnostic kits.
While the 18% slab consists of a standard rate for most goods and services, including automobiles such as small cars and motorcycles (up to 350cc), consumer goods like electronic items, household goods, and some professional services, a uniform 18% rate applies to all auto parts.
Additionally, there is also a 40% slab for luxury and sin goods, including tobacco and pan Masala, products like cigarettes, bidis, and aerated sugary beverages and on luxury vehicles, high-end motorcycles above 350cc, yachts, and helicopters.
Moreover, some essential services and educational items are fully exempted from GST, including individual health, family floater and life insurance, no GST on health and life insurance premiums and education and healthcare, like certain services related to education and healthcare are GST-exempt.