Rahul terms GST on wheelchairs ‘disability tax’, demands roll-back

TIL Desk/National/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. “Congress demands a full roll-back of this ‘disability tax’ that will put millions of our disabled people through further hardship,” he added.

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.