In the wake of the announcement last week of the new GST rates, full - page by advertisements are appearing in newspappers, mostly by the automobile industrry, "joyfully thanking our Hon'ble Prime Minister for the visionary GST reforms turning this moment into a nationwide celebreation". The " love's labour lost" of the esteemed GST Council comprising the Central and State Finance Ministers and others has gone without a word of appreciation and thanks . Even the common citizens, the ultimate bearers if this indirect taxation and who have been greatly benefitted in the reformed regime of GST have not expressed a word of gratitude. They may not have a representative organisation like industry associations or ferderations or adveertisement budget to afford full page advertisements , but they could atleast have let their gratitude published as Letters to Editor in newspapers.
Briefly, the 0%reformed rate "ensures basic necessities and critical services remain affordable and accessible to ALL CITIZENS", while the 5% rate is "designed to keep everyday items affordable and accessible for the "GENERAL POPULATION" . This is somewhat confusing . For instance, if one buys fresh milk attracting 0 % GST, he/she is a citizen but when the same person buys a tube of toothpaste at 5% does he/ she become just one of the general population? Which of the two is inclusive of the other ?
As a wag in my group of senior citzens remarked with his tongue in cheek that the date of commencement of the reformesd rates of GST has been carefully chosen as 22nd September marking the passing of the ongoing Pithru Paksha, a period not condusive for good events!
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