"People know tax was increased eight years ago and now they have slightly reduced it": Pramod Tiwari on GST reforms

Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], September 23 (ANI): Congress leader Pramod Tiwari on Tuesday targeted the government over its campaign concerning GST reforms and said people know that they had to bear "increased GST" for eight years, and it has been partially reduced on some products now.
He alleged that people of the country do not trust the BJP-led government.
He said that petroleum products should also be included in Goods and Services Tax (GST).
"People know that tax was increased eight years ago and now they have slightly reduced it...People understood it was raised by double, reduced by half, and it is still high; Petroleum products should also be added under it (GST)...," Tiwari told ANI.
GST reforms have come into effect from September 22.
The Congress leader said that due to the GST rates prevailing in the past eight years, more than Rs 50 lakh crore "were taken away" from people's pocket.
He said GST rates should be slashed further.
The new GST rate rationalisation has reduced the earlier five slabs for the indirect tax to just two slabs, with an additional 40 per cent tax levied on specifically luxury and sin goods. The 40 per cent tax is levied on luxury and sin goods, including tobacco and pan masala, cigarettes, bidis, and aerated sugary beverages and on luxury vehicles, high-end motorcycles above 350cc, yachts, and helicopters.
The reform in the Goods and Services Tax structure was approved during the 56th meeting of the GST Council earlier this month. (ANI)