Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera has launched a fresh attack on the central government over its handling of Goods and Services Tax reforms, claiming that the government is only now realizing the need for measures suggested years ago by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. His remarks have reignited the debate around GST, eight years after its rollout, and highlighted concerns raised by opposition leaders, traders, and state governments.
Khera stated that when Rahul Gandhi had warned about the flaws in GST’s structure during its implementation, the ruling government dismissed those concerns. According to him, the Centre is now considering reforms that Gandhi had repeatedly highlighted, including rationalization of tax slabs, simplification of compliance processes, and better revenue sharing with states. “It seems the government has finally woken up after eight years of hardship faced by the common man and businesses,” Khera said.
The Congress leader argued that the government’s rigid stance in the early years of GST rollout created unnecessary complications for small traders, medium enterprises, and state administrations. He claimed that businesses had to bear heavy compliance costs due to a complex filing system, while frequent changes in rules confused taxpayers. Furthermore, Khera stressed that states were not adequately compensated, leading to fiscal stress in many regions.
Pointing to inflation and rising costs for consumers, Khera remarked that GST had failed to deliver its promise of reducing the tax burden. “Instead of one nation, one tax, what we got was multiple rates, confusion, and endless notices for businesses,” he added. According to him, had the Centre listened to Rahul Gandhi’s advice at the beginning, both the economy and governance would have been in a stronger position today.
Khera also accused the government of sidelining cooperative federalism. He claimed that during the initial years, state governments had little say in crucial decisions taken by the GST Council, which further deepened mistrust. “Now the Centre speaks of inclusiveness and reforms, but only after eight years of criticism and failure,” he said.
The Congress party has positioned GST reforms as an example of what it describes as poor planning and inadequate consultation by the ruling government. By linking the current discussion to Rahul Gandhi’s past statements, the opposition aims to underline that their warnings were valid and should not have been ignored.
Economists and industry leaders have also pointed out challenges in the GST framework over the years. While some reforms have been gradually introduced, such as simplified return filing and e-invoicing, critics argue that structural issues remain unresolved. These include the need for fewer tax slabs, clarity on exemptions, and timely compensation to states.
The renewed debate comes at a time when the central government is reportedly working on a new roadmap for GST reforms. For the Congress, this provides an opportunity to press its case that the government is correcting mistakes belatedly. For the Centre, it raises the challenge of proving that upcoming changes will finally deliver on the original promise of GST as a transparent and efficient tax regime.
