GST launched: Union ministers say tax reform will create a new India, help common man

New Delhi:  All praise for the GST, Union ministers Saturday night said the tax reform measure will transform the country into a “New India” with uniform tax regime. Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the new transparent, effective and progressive indirect tax regime will fulfill the dream of “New India”. [caption id=“attachment_3762921” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  A cutout of Narendra Modi, next to GST banners in New Delhi. PTI[/caption] “As the Prime minister said, GST is much more than an economic reform. It will take shape of social reform,” Pradhan said after attending a midnight function in Parliament organised for rollout of the GST. On the absence of some opposition parties, Pradhan said, “If they didn’t come, may Almighty give them some sense”. Power minister Piyush Goyal said barring a few, the entire nation has come together in “one stream and one necklace” to celebrate the launch of the “game-changing” reform that India always wished for. “The GST will not cause distress or difficulty to common man, but it will make tax evasion harder,” he said. Minister of state in PMO Jitendra Singh said the Congress, which chose to boycott the launch event, will regret its decision later. He said the Congress took the decision to keep away from the function despite the Modi government acknowledging the contribution of the previous governments by inviting former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and H D Deve Gowda. Food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said GST will make India free of black money. “I am confident that this will act like a boon for the common man as it will bring down prices. This landmark legislation will convert India into economic union with uniform rules, laws, tariff and procedures across the nation,” she said. Rail minister Suresh Prabhu said in the coming days, tax compliance and tax collection will improve and the common man’s problem in paying taxes will go. Minister of state for finance Santosh Gangwar said the GST council will come together again whenever it will be required.