"Why didn't they think about this 7 years ago?": Congress' Bhupendra Hooda on new GST reforms

New Delhi [India], September 22 (ANI): Following the implementation of next-gen GST reforms, Congress leader Bhupendra Singh Hooda on Monday came down heavily on the Centre, asking if the government will refund the amount of GST that has been collected over the past 7 years.
Hooda stated that there is still a great need to provide much more relief in the GST so that it benefits the common man of the country.
Speaking to ANI, the Congress leader said, "GST was imposed by this government itself. Why didn't they think about this 7 years ago? Will they refund the amount of GST that has gone over the past 7 years? In the announcement that has been made now, there is still a great need to provide much more relief so that it benefits the common man of the country..."
The GST 2.0 reforms, which the Union Government approved on September 4, have been implemented from today.
Under the revised structure, the previous four-tier GST slabs have been consolidated into two main categories: 5 per cent and 18 per cent. Items that were earlier taxed at 12 per cent have been brought down to 5 per cent, while those in the 28 per cent category have been rationalised to 18 per cent. Essential commodities and daily-use items are now taxed at the lowest rate, making them more affordable for households.
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. It is intended to lower the cost of living, strengthen MSMEs, widen the tax base, and drive inclusive growth.
In the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and dairy sector, major brands like Amul and Mother Dairy have announced substantial price cuts, reflecting the full benefit of the GST reduction.
Items like milk, butter, ghee, paneer, cheese, ice cream, snacks, and frozen foods have been brought under the 5 per cent slab, due to which 100 g of Amul butter will now cost Rs 58 instead of Rs 62, and Ultra High Temperature milk (UHT) has dropped to Rs 75 per litre from Rs 77. Mother Dairy has also slashed prices on milkshakes, paneer, ghee, and frozen products. (ANI)