Changes announced by GST Council not 'Diwali gift': Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray continued to attack the BJP government on the state of the economy and implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on Saturday.

"People are still not happy. Petrol prices are still high, inflation is still up," Thackeray pointed out.

"I thank Central govt for reducing tax slabs under GST, but will it refund the tax collected so far? I'm not an economist to comment on yesterday's announcements but I must say that the previous govt stood firm on its decisions. Now decisions are being changed following opposition and dissatisfaction among people."

He also lashed out at PM Modi referring to the GST Council's decisions as an early "Diwali gift". "The changes announced by the GST Council are not Diwali gifts. Several more changes are required. These changes were only announced in light of the forthcoming Gujarat election."

Striking a warning tone, the Shiv Sena chief said, "The time of final decision has come. We're here to to serve people and will continue doing that."

On questions of whether Shiv Sena is taking a decision on its alliance with NDA, he said, "We don't give ultimatum to anyone.We take decision whenever we think so." 

Three months after the roll-out of the new indirect tax regime, the GST Council yesterday made sweeping changes to give relief to small and medium businesses on filing and payment of taxes, eased rules for exporters and cut tax rates on more than two dozen items.

(With Agency Inputs)