"Finally have to follow Rahul Gandhi's advice": Pawan Khera slams Centre on GST reforms after 8 years

New Delhi [India], September 4 (ANI): Congress leader Pawan Khera on Thursday slammed the Centre over the next-generation GST reforms after eight years.
In a post on X, Pawan Khera wrote, "When they finally have to follow@RahulGandhi's advice, why do they take so much time in doing that?"

When they finally have to follow @RahulGandhi’s advice, why do they take so much time in doing that? pic.twitter.com/Lj4vISEb1L

— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) September 4, 2025

Notably, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had earlier urged for an 18 per cent GST cap. Khera shared old posts of Rahul Gandhi, where he wrote, "As the GST Council begins its deliberations today, I want to stress again that an 18% cap on the GST rate is in everybody's interest."
"Since 2005, Congress Party has wanted a GST that is not only pro industry & pro trade but also non-inflationary for common ppl esp the poor. As an indirect tax, GST affects rich and poor alike. l urge GST Council to keep the rate at 18% or lower so that the poor are not unduly burdened!," Rahul Gandhi's old post reads.
Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram also criticised the GST reform move as being "8 years too late".
In a post on X, Chidambaram said the current GST design and rates should not have been introduced in the first place, adding that the opposition had repeatedly warned against these issues for years, but their pleas were ignored."The GST rationalisation and the reduction in rates on a range of goods and services are WELCOME but 8 years TOO LATE. The current design of GST and the rates prevailing until today ought not to have been introduced in the first place. We have been crying hoarse for the last 8 years against the design and rates of GST, but our pleas fell on deaf ears," he wrote.
Chidambaram further questioned the government's timing for the reforms, speculating on the possible reasons behind the sudden change.
He suggested multiple economic and political factors that may have influenced the decision after eight years of delay, including the tariffs imposed on Indian goods to the US, as well as elections in Bihar that are to be held later this year."It will be interesting to speculate on what drove the government to make the changes: Sluggish growth? Rising household debt? Falling household savings? Elections in Bihar? Mr Trump and his tariffs? All of the above?" he added.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a sweeping reduction in GST, aimed at providing relief to households, farmers, businesses and the healthcare sector.
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. (ANI)