Don't Mislead the Country": FM Nirmala Sitharaman Hits Back at Opposition Over GST

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has launched a scathing attack on the opposition, calling the recent GST reforms 'reforms for the people'. She said that the opposition is misleading the country on the basis of wrong information, while India needs a better opposition. In an interview to PTI, the Finance Minister also announced that she will personally monitor from September 22 whether the benefits of reduction in GST rates are reaching the customers or not.

Responding to the opposition's criticism of the 4-slab system of GST, the Finance Minister said, "The decision to have 4 slabs was not of the BJP but of the powerful committee of finance ministers of the states." He clearly said that the criticism of opposition leaders is based on wrong information and they are misleading the country on GST.

Describing the recent changes in GST as historic, Nirmala Sitharaman said that it is truly a 'reform for the people', which will have a positive impact on the everyday lives of 140 crore Indians. She expressed confidence that the industry will pass on the full benefit of the GST rate cut to the customers, which will benefit every family, increase consumption and strengthen the economy. She said, "PM Modi has always focused on reforms in the interest of the people and he will continue to take more such steps."

Underlining the spirit of cooperative federalism, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has also written a letter to the Finance Ministers of all the States and expressed gratitude for their cooperation and active role in successfully implementing these historic changes in the GST system.