CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief MK Stalin on Tuesday took a pot shot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms saying that though he claims that Indians will save Rs 2.5 lakh crore through it and if the government would have accepted the demands of the opposition eight years ago then families would have saved many lakh crores more.
He also urged the government to respect federalism, release the funds, and let the people benefit from what is rightfully theirs and said that India cannot grow by punishing states that defend their rights and stand for their people.
In a statement, Stalin said, “The Prime Minister now says Indians will save Rs 2.5 lakh crore through GST reform and Income Tax relief. But this is exactly what the Opposition has been demanding from the very beginning. If these measures had been taken eight years ago, families across the country would already have saved many lakh crores more.”
The Chief Minister also said that moreover, “it is our duty to point out that 50 per cent of this relief has been actually borne by the state governments, a fact which the Union has failed to acknowledge as well as appreciate”.
“On the contrary, the Union BJP government is denying funds that rightfully belong to the states. Tamil Nadu is being denied Samagra Shiksha funds only because we refuse to accept Hindi Imposition. When will this injustice end?” Stalin said.
The DMK leader taking a swipe at the government said: “India cannot grow by punishing States that defend their rights and stand for their people. Respect federalism, release the funds, and let the people benefit from what is rightfully theirs.”
The remarks came after the Prime Minister Monday in a post on X, described the rollout as the beginning of a ‘GST Savings Festival’, and framed it as a step towards economic self-reliance and the promotion of indigenous manufacturing.
“This Navratri is particularly special. With the GST Savings Festival, the mantra of Swadeshi (Made in India) will be further energised,” Modi said.
“Let us unite in our efforts towards the vision of a developed and self-reliant India,” he added.
