'Double dose of economic reforms': PM Modi hails GST 2.0, slams Congress for 'heavy taxes'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed rationalization of Goods and Services Tax as a double dose of economic reforms to make India self-reliant, even as he slammed the Opposition Congress for imposing "heavy taxes" on even daily essentials items when in power.

Calling upon teachers and students to lead the campaign to promote swadeshi products, Modi said all sections "poor, neo middle class, middle class women, students, farmers and youth will benefit from reduced taxes."

“GST 2.0 is a double dose of support and growth for the nation. Next-generation reforms in GST have been done to support India’s progress in the 21st century. Five new gems (panch ratna) have been added to India’s vibrant economy through GST reforms,” he said in an interaction with National Teacher awardees here.

The Prime Minister said that before he came to power in 2014, items of daily use were heavily taxed. "Whether it was kitchen utensils or agricultural things, or medicines, and even life insurance, the Congress government took different taxes on such various things."

"The condition was that the Congress people used to take 21% tax on children's toffees," Modi said in a sharp response to the Congress' which has said the GST rationalization approved by the GST council has come eight years late.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been a vociferous critic of the GST slabs, and has often dubbed it as "Gabbar Singh Tax" that has adversely impacted small businesses.