Ashoka accused the Congress of double standards, noting that while its leaders in Delhi hail Rahul Gandhi’s position on GST, the Karnataka government resists reforms.
Bengaluru
The Karnataka BJP has accused the Congress-led state government of blocking the Centre’s proposal to rationalise GST slabs. The party said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reforms aim to ease citizens’ burden, but the Siddaramaiah government is standing in the way.
Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka argued on Saturday that rationalisation would make essentials like food items, textiles, appliances, cement, and health insurance cheaper, directly benefiting the public. He alleged the Congress opposes reforms under the guise of revenue loss, dubbing the state government an “ATM for Delhi masters.”
Ashoka further accused the Congress of double standards, pointing out that while leaders in Delhi support Rahul Gandhi’s earlier calls for GST reform, the Karnataka government resists the Centre’s initiative.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah countered, saying the state is not against rationalisation but insists on safeguards to protect fiscal interests. Without adequate measures, he warned, states risk losing revenue needed for welfare schemes and development. Karnataka already faces an annual shortfall of about ₹25,000 crore in central allocations, he noted, adding that further cuts would hit social programmes and infrastructure.
He stressed that GST is built on Centre–state partnership and reforms should strengthen, not weaken, this balance.
