Govt trying to burden people even more with Gabbar Singh Tax: Siddaramaiah on GST levy

Bengaluru: Congress leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah lashed out at the Union government for imposing a 5 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on unbranded pre-packed and labelled food items.

In a series of Tweets, Siddaramaiah accused the government of increasing the burden on the people by imposing more taxes.

“Vegetables & other essential food prices have already gone up due to increase in fuel prices. Income of families also have come down due to unemployment. Instead of helping people, @BJP4India is trying to burden them even more with #GabbarSinghTax,” he tweeted.

“Only fascists can do this,” the tweet added.

He highlighted that GST affected everyone – across caste, religion, and party lines. “This #GabbarSinghTax is impartial in terms of burdening every common man of this country. Many voted @BJP4India hoping for ‘Acche Din’ & even they will be equally affected. This affects people of every caste, religion & party,” he said.

He further added, “Depriving people of their food is ‘Acche Din’ for @narendramodi led @BJP4India govt. Snatching away the rice, wheat, milk, curd, meat from poor people is equivalent to murdering them.”

He also accused the government of appeasing the demands of branded companies. “By levying GST even on unbranded packed rice, wheat, milk, curd & other daily essentials, @narendramodi government has proven that they have budged to the demands of branded companies & theirs is a suit-boot sarkar,” he said.

Siddaramaiah highlighted the failure of the government to bring fugitive economic offenders to justice saying: “Fugitive economic offenders like Nirav Modi & Mallya are living their lavish lifestyles abroad. Incapable of bringing them back to our country, @narendramodi is all out to hit poor people hard.”