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News India Live, Digital Desk: Tax Debate: The debate on the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates on tobacco products has now turned into a new political dispute. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has raised a sharp objection when the Kerala Congress has compared the state’s tobacco products to “Beedi of Bihar”. The BJP has described it as a symbol of the divisive mindset of the Congress and the spirit of regional superiority.
What is the whole matter?
The dispute began when the GST Council proposed to increase tax rates on tobacco products. Opposing this proposal, some Congress leaders and social media handles allegedly argued that the high quality tobacco produced in Kerala should not be taxed at the same rate as “cheap beedi made in Bihar”.
The leaders of Kerala Congress argued that the quality of tobacco grown by the farmers of their state is different and the local farmers and economy will be damaged by imposing more tax on it. In this context, he mentioned the bidi to be built in Bihar, which the BJP described as derogatory and promoting regional discrimination.
BJP retaliation
The BJP immediately caught this remark. The party’s national spokesperson said that this is the old habit of the Congress, where it underestimates one state from another state. BJP leaders said that for the Congress, perhaps the poor laborers of Bihar and the beedi industry there do not matter, that is why they are making such derogatory comparison.
The BJP alleged that the Congress has always been running on the policy of “divide and rule”, and this comment is another example of the same mindset. The party said that GST is based on the spirit of ‘one country, one tax’ and there is no place for such regional discrimination.
This case has now become a matter of regional self -respect and political dignity by moving beyond tax rates. The BJP has demanded the Congress to apologize for this statement. At the same time, Congress leaders have described it as a fight for the interests of the farmers of their state and accused the BJP of deviating the issue.
