Rahul Gandhi criticises Modi govt for levying GST on wheelchairs & Braille typewriters, demands roll-back

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi. File image/ PTI

New Delhi: Criticising the Narendra Modi government for levying GST on wheelchairs and Braille typewriters, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said it will put millions of disabled people through further hardship, and demanded its roll back. "GST (Goods and Services Tax) on disability aids like wheelchairs and Braille typewriters, once again shows this government's complete insensitivity towards our most vulnerable," Gandhi wrote on Twitter on Monday.

GST on disability aids like wheelchairs & Braille typewriters, once again shows this Govt's complete insensitivity twds our most vulnerable https://t.co/5b8go5hbgJ

— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) July 3, 2017

"Congress demands a full roll-back of this 'disability tax' that will put millions of our disabled people through further hardship," he added.

Congress Party demands a full roll back of this 'disability tax' that will put millions of our disabled people through further hardship — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) July 3, 2017

The Congress party had boycotted the roll out of the GST at a function in the Central Hall of Parliament on June 30 midnight, and accused the government of rolling out GST in a hurry. Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Congress on Monday said it was not against implementation of the GST but it would not allow erosion of the state's special status. "We are not against the Goods and Services Tax, but have problem with the way it is being implemented. The government should make it clear as to how to protect the special status of the state," J-K Congress chief G A Mir said. "We will not allow erosion of the state's special position or its fiscal autonomy," he said. Mir was talking to reporters after the Congress Legislature Party's meeting ahead of the special session of the state legislature starting tomorrow for the passage of the GST Bill. Jammu and Kashmir is the only state which is yet to implement the GST. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) -- India's biggest tax reform since independence -- came into force on July 1, unifying more than a dozen central and state levies. The state Congress chief said, "The PDP-BJP coalition government is confused and divided over implementation of the GST. But they tried to befool people by showing they were in consultations with all the parties and other stakeholders." Mir said the opposition parties demanded a draft proposal from the government for implementation of the new tax regime in the state. (With inputs from agencies)