Despite the benefits of reduced GST rates not reaching people, the BJP and its government are pressuring Delhiites to celebrate ‘GST Utsav’. Shopkeepers say officials are threatening them for not celebrating, AAP MLA from Kondli, Kuldeep Kumar, revealed, adding that if reforms truly saved people money, citizens would celebrate on their own—without ministers and officials roaming streets to enforce it.
Pointing to the pressure on shopkeepers, AAP’s Kondli MLA Kuldeep Kumar stated, “Officials are going to shopkeepers and telling them to celebrate the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms. On one hand, shopkeepers are facing losses, and instead of addressing that, they are being forced to celebrate. Officials are threatening businesspersons and compelling them to celebrate. The Delhi CM, BJP ministers and officials are roaming through every street, forcing people to celebrate.”
Emphasising that celebrations should be voluntary, Kuldeep Kumar said, “When we do good work, people celebrate on their own. If this was truly such a good occasion, then the public would celebrate it themselves. But today, BJP members are forcing people to celebrate.”
Questioning the reform itself, he asked, “What kind of amendment has the BJP government sitting at the Centre made? What relief has it given to the people of Delhi? Earlier, clothes priced up to ₹1,000 had 12 percent GST, now they have removed that and imposed 18 percent GST on clothes priced above ₹2,500. So, has the GST reduced or increased? Apart from misleading and fooling the public through manipulation, the BJP is doing nothing else.”
