GST on cement reduced to 18 per cent in view of reconstruction needs of state: Nadda

BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda today said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted to provide relief to the people of the state but the Congress government had burdened them by increasing taxes.

He said, “We all know that Himachal Pradesh is trying to recover from massive losses caused by natural disasters such as cloudbursts, landslides and floods. Keeping in mind the need for housing construction and infrastructure reconstruction in Himachal Pradesh, the GST on cement was reduced, lowering the price of a bag of cement by up to Rs 30. Earlier, cement was taxed at the rate of 28 per cent, which has now been reduced to 18 per cent. However, the people of the state did not get the benefit of the GST reforms because instead of reducing the price of cement, the state government has hiked it.”

Nadda said that the entire country was celebrating Navratras and the Dasehra festival, besides the ‘GST Bachat Utsav’ since September 22. He added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) had either being brought to zero or had been significantly lowered on most of the essential and daily need items, thus providing considerable relief to common people.

Nadda said, “What rightfully belongs to people should have benefited them, but the Himachal Government started looting them from the very day the GST relief was granted. Instead of providing relief to people, the Congress government is busy filling its own treasury, which is unethical and insensitivity.”

The BJP president added, “The unfortunate part of it is that when the cement produced in Himachal Pradesh is sold in neighbouring states, it is cheaper, but within the state, it is sold at higher prices.”

Nadda said that the state government was so insensitive that it had also hiked water supply charges and stamp duties. “A one-time fee of Rs 100 has been imposed on rural water supply. Additionally, electricity bills have been significantly increased. This has exposed the inhuman face of the Congress government that has worsened the state’s economic condition under the guise of false guarantees,” he alleged.