Bengaluru, Sep 22 (NationPress) Former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai has extended his congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central government for providing a significant Dusshera gift to the populace through a notable reduction in their tax obligations.

However, he expressed discontent towards the Siddaramaiah administration, questioning whether the state government will alleviate the taxes it has imposed on its citizens.

In a post on X, Bommai remarked on Monday: "The implementation of GST in 2017 was a courageous move. Even during the Covid crisis, the Prime Minister ensured that no state encountered significant hardships. Presently, in consideration of economic stability, the government has exempted numerous goods from taxation. Approximately 90 percent of goods are now subject to just 5 percent GST. For certain categories, GST is set at 18 percent, resulting in merely two tax slabs, which has greatly streamlined the system. This achievement is credited to Narendra Modi. This change has lessened the tax load on tractors, tillers, fertilizers, and various agricultural tools utilized by farmers."

Bommai further highlighted, "The costs of essential items used by the public – such as curds, milk, and ghee – will now decline. This genuinely indicates that the government is supportive of the underprivileged. Alongside this, the economy will receive comprehensive encouragement. With this reform, India is on a faster trajectory to becoming a five-trillion-dollar economy. Citizens will save around Rs 2 lakh crore in taxes. The government has further simplified GST by eliminating the inverted duty structure, ensuring that the benefits reach particularly small enterprises directly,” he added.

“Simultaneously, this initiative represents a robust stride toward establishing a self-reliant India, as envisaged by Prime Minister Modi. It is imperative that everyone genuinely supports this national initiative,” the MP urged.

Bommai criticized the state government for imposing excessive taxes on the populace. “At a moment when the Prime Minister has reduced GST and presented a substantial festive gift to the public, the Congress government in Karnataka under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has gained notoriety for imposing additional taxes amounting to Rs 1 lakh crore over the last two years. Immediately after assuming power, they significantly increased taxes on petrol, motor vehicles, stamp duty, and excise. Consequently, essential goods like milk and water have become more expensive.”

He declared that the Siddaramaiah government has even taxed water and air, and in Bengaluru, a unique tax has been levied on garbage. "This clearly illustrates that the Congress government is anti-people and is burdening them with excessive taxes. In this context, people are questioning whether Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will reduce the taxes he has instituted,” Bommai concluded.