In a fiery exchange in the Lok Sabha, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee locked horns with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over GST policies. The debate escalated when Banerjee took to X, delivering a scathing rebuttal to the minister’s claims of fact-twisting.
Banerjee expressed gratitude for the minister’s attention to his speech but lamented her apparent disregard for Bengal’s pleas for pending funds under MGNREGA, PMAY, PMGSY, and Jal Jeevan Mission. He vowed to set the record straight on GST realities.
Highlighting everyday hardships, Banerjee noted that while fresh milk is GST-free, powdered milk—often the only option for low-income mothers—carries a 5% tax. ‘The poor can’t afford the tax-free item, but pay on what they must buy,’ he pointed out.
On education, textbooks may be exempt, but math copies, graph books, lab notebooks, and crayons face 12% GST, burdening students from modest backgrounds. Health services tell a similar story: oxygen cylinders (12%), insulin (5%), and anesthesia (12%) are taxed, despite core treatments being exempt.
Banerjee’s sharpest barb came on funeral rites. While services are tax-free, incense sticks and agarbatti attract 5% GST. ‘In New India, even grief comes with a price tag,’ he quipped, listing more: baby food (5%), diapers (18%), pencils (12%), broadband (18%), and diagnostic kits (5%). He also flagged excise duties on petrol (Rs 19.9/litre) and diesel (Rs 15.8/litre).
Earlier, Sitharaman defended GST, stating fresh milk, educational services up to higher secondary, books, and health treatments have been exempt since 2017. Recent reforms zeroed GST on personal health insurance, and funeral services were never taxed. She countered with a jab at West Bengal’s alleged ‘syndicate raj’ demanding ‘cut money’ even in death.
This clash underscores deepening political divides over India’s indirect tax regime, with opposition leaders questioning its equity for the vulnerable.