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Pawan Khera Criticises GST, Demands Simplification And Reform

January 10, 2025, 1:34 am

On Thursday, Pawan Khera, Chairman of Media and Publicity (Communications Department) for the All India Congress Committee (AICC), sharply criticised the Modi government’s implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), calling it a tool to extort money from the poor and middle class. Launching a scathing attack on the BJP government, he questioned the GST system. He stated that the once-promised “Goods and Simple Tax” has instead turned into a “Gabbar Singh Tax” under the BJP government.

Khera criticised the government for celebrating record-breaking GST collections while giving significant corporate tax cuts. In 2019, the government slashed corporate tax rates from 30% to 22%, costing the exchequer an estimated Rs 2 lakh crore. In contrast, tax collections from GST have been rising steadily, with a 177% increase in the last five years. Khera questioned why the government continues to burden the common people with high GST rates while offering lucrative tax breaks to large corporations. Khera argued that the Modi government’s economic policies are designed to benefit the wealthy, claiming that the GST burden disproportionately affects the poor and middle class. He highlighted that nearly 64% of total GST collections in 2021-22 came from the bottom 50% of the population, while only 3% was contributed by the top 10%. He criticised the current taxation system for its emphasis on consumption taxes, which, according to him, hit the economically disadvantaged the hardest.

GST Hits Farmers Hard

In a scathing criticism, Khera pointed out that even the country’s farmers are not spared by the GST system. According to government data, 36 farm-related items, including tractor tyres, fertilisers, and irrigation equipment, are taxed under GST. Khera lamented that this has increased input costs for farmers, further diminishing their income.

The current GST structure includes nine different tax rates, ranging from 0% on essential items to 28% on luxury and sin goods. The complexity increases further with additional cess rates on certain products, such as vehicles, luxury items, and tobacco. According to Khera, this convoluted tax structure makes it far from the “simple” tax system originally promised by the government. He pointed out that the Congress party had long advocated for rationalising GST rates into a single rate, as practiced in many other countries. GST was originally designed to simplify taxes like VAT and Sales Tax with the idea of “One Nation, One Tax.” Pawan Khera reminded the public that former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh started discussions on GST but stressed it should be carefully planned before implementation. Khera pointed out that in 2017, Dr Singh had expressed concerns about rushing GST without proper preparation. He criticised the BJP for ignoring these warnings, resulting in a GST system that failed to be as simple as promised.

Call For GST 2.0

As part of the Congress party’s manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Khera called for a refreshed and simplified version of GST, which he described as “GST 2.0”. He stressed that this new version should lessen the burden on ordinary citizens and make the tax system truly simple. He urged the Modi government to adopt the ideas proposed by Congress in its manifesto and bring about the much-needed reforms in the upcoming Union Budget.

Congress hits back at BJP for targeting Rahul, asks why PM Modi gave clean chit to China

September 12, 2024, 2:54 am

Congress on Wednesday hit back at the BJP for targeting Leader of Opposotion in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his comments and asked the ruling party to clear its stand on reservation, and also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving clean chit to China.
Responding to the charges of BJP, Congress publicity and media department chairman Pawan Khera said, “China entered into our territory and captured it. The Prime Minister gave clean chit to China.”

He said, it is Congress which spoke against the Chinese intrusion and condemned the clean chit that was given to China.

“Anti-national work was done by the person who gave the clean chit to China. Anti-national work was not done by us which condemned the clean chit,” the Congress leader said. Rahul Gandhi during his interaction in Washington DC on being asked that what he thinks if Prime Minister Modi has managed the US-China competition and said, “Well, if you call having Chinese troops in 4,000 square kilometres of our territory handling something well, then maybe we’ve got Chinese troops occupying land the size of Delhi in Ladakh. I think that’s a disaster… “How would America react if a neighbour occupied 4000 square kilometres of your territory? Would any president be able to get away with saying that he’s handled that well? So I don’t think PM Modi handled China well at all. I think there’s no reason Chinese troops should be sitting in our territory…” the LoP said.

While commenting on the Sikhs issue on which Rahul Gandhi spoke in US and triggered a controversy in India, Khera said, “There should be freedom in wearing turban. We want that only.”

Targeting the Prime Minister and the BJP, he said, “This is the same BJP where the Prime Minister says that he can recognize with their clothes. This is the same BJP which first beats people just because they are Muslim and they have and their beard.”
Citing examples, Khera said that a youth was killed in Haryana thinking he was a Muslim and then they apologised and will the country stay in such atmosphere.
“We are talking about Constitution, which gives freedom to everyone,” Khera said.

Rahul Gandhi had said: “The fight (in India) is about whether a Sikh is going to be allowed to wear a turban…whether a Sikh will be allowed to wear a kada or go to the Gurudwara. That’s what the fight is about, and it’s not just for Sikhs, but for all religions.”
His comments triggered strong reactions from the BJP. Even Banned terror organisation Gurwantpant Singh Pannun also endorsed Rahul Gandhi’s remarks and dubbed it as “bold and pioneering” and also justified the demand for a separate Khalistani state.

On Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweets alleging anti reservation stand of Rahul Gandhi, Khera said: “I want to challenge Amit Shah that we are ready to increase reservation to more than 50 per cent as of now. Will they clear there stand on reservation.
Ge also commented on Pannun and said, “Give us Pegasus then we will tell who is behind him. His statements come when it suits the BJP.”

On Rahul Gandhi’s meeting Ilhan Omar, he said, “Have they ever heard about Ilham Omar before. She is a lawmaker and she met in a group with Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi met in a group and not secretly. If the BJP has any issue, then it should summon US Ambassador, Home Minister should write a letter to US State department.”

Omar was part of a group of 10 US lawmakers who met Gandhi in the US on Tuesday.
The first African refugee elected to Congress, Omar, in her earlier term as a Democrat Congresswomen in 2022, had moved an anti-India resolution, saying India was guilty of violating religious freedom. This was shortly after she went to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, a visit that India had condemned.

Khera while commenting on the fresh violence in Manipur, and said: “ The Prime Minister shouldn’t do cheap politics, he wasted 10 years. He should work, he should go to Manipur and try to wipe the tears of the people and heal there wounds.”

Many people have been injured in Manipur in the fresh violence. Even rocket launchers and drones were used in Manipur for the fresh attack.
Violence erupted in Manipur on May 3 last year and since then hundreds have died while many had to take refuge in the shelter camps.

Congress Responds To Anurag Thakur’s Remark On Rahul Gandhi’s Caste

July 30, 2024, 10:15 pm

On Tuesday, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized BJP MP Anurag Thakur for allegedly questioning Rahul Gandhi’s caste. She stated that 80% of the country’s population was insulted in Parliament. During the Union Budget discussion in the Lok Sabha, Thakur remarked about the unknown caste of those advocating for a caste census, which caused an uproar. Thakur later clarified he did not name anyone.

Priyanka’s Statement:
“A socio-economic caste census is the demand of 80% of the people of this country. Today, it was said in Parliament that those whose caste is not known talk about a caste census,” Priyanka said in a Hindi post on X. She questioned if 80% of India’s population would be abused in Parliament and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify the situation.

Pawan Khera’s Statement:
Congress’s media and publicity department head Pawan Khera declared that the caste of Rahul Gandhi’s family is “martyrdom.” He criticized the BJP’s mindset, stating, “This mindset can only be of the BJP that such abuses are used for a person who is the son of a family of martyrs. He is told that your caste is not known. We will tell you what his caste is. Rahul Gandhi’s father is a martyr and this family’s caste is martyrdom. This the RSS, the BJP, and Thakur can never understand.”

Rahul Gandhi’s Response:
Rahul Gandhi claimed he was insulted and abused by Thakur. “Whoever raises the issues of Adivasi, Dalit, and the backward, is abused. I will happily accept these abuses…Anurag Thakur has abused me and insulted me. But I do not want any apology from him,” Rahul Gandhi said.

Anurag Thakur’s Original Remark:
Earlier, Thakur said, “Those whose caste is not known, talk about the caste census. I want to remind the Speaker that in this House itself, a former prime minister RG-1 (Rajiv Gandhi) had opposed reservation for OBCs.”

Support from Akhilesh Yadav:
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, an ally of Rahul Gandhi, also criticized Thakur, questioning how he could ask about Rahul Gandhi’s caste.

Rahul Gandhi New Political Face Of India: Pawan Khera

July 30, 2024, 1:42 am

Chairman Media and Publicity Department All India Congress Committee Pawan Khera expressed a contrasting critique on the the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections as he said that although Congress has accepted the mandate but the prime minister Narendra Modi has not been able to accept the mandate.

He said, “We have won even after losing and the BJP have lost even after winning. The country’s political face (the one who can lead the country) has changed altogether, now the face has become Rahul Gandhi, this has to be accepted and If Modi accepts it then only can he spend couple of years or some months in the government.”
When asked that the acongress’ marketing has been good which has obstructed the BJP’s absolute win, yet the mandate has been good enough for the ruling party to run the country, Khera responded, “When the BJP had 2 seats in 1980’s in the parliament, did they directly achieve the 200 seats in the subsequent elections? No they slowly went on to win more and more seats in the following elections, now you think, we can go from 50 to 400, that can only happen in Modi’s imaginations. We have worked hard, we have started to work harder, we have walked thousands of miles, let us not put Modi ji there but can Amit Shah do it, can he walk even a few miles?”

Asked why the Prime Minister Modi is being obstructed in the parliament, Khera responded by saying that since 10 years he has been speaking and all of us have been listening, but now there is a kind of monotony in his speeches, he is saying all the same again and again. Khera added, “He is saying Nehru did this, Nehru did not do this. Even if you ask BJP’s own people they are also tired of hearing these speeches, even Sangh parivar is tired of listening to these things. And by doing this we are helping Sangh parivar. We are just trying to tell them to answer on Agniveer, on NEET, on Hathras, we tell them to put down their work in front of the people.

India News Manch 2024: Pawan Khera Slams PM Modi, Challenges Amit Shah | Watch

July 29, 2024, 11:23 am

ITV Network is hosting a ‘Manch’ today, Monday, July 29, to address the nation’s major issues. The event features numerous Union Ministers, and the process of questioning prominent opposition figures has begun. Our channel is presenting sharp questions from the public to both ruling party leaders and opposition members. Every topic that concerns the public will be discussed openly.

The Manch started at 10 am at the Le Meridien Hotel in Connaught Place, New Delhi, and will continue throughout the day.

Pawan Khera teared into Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leader Amit Shah, labelling the party’s Lok Sabha win as a ‘loss’. Here’s what he said:

Congress MP Pawan Khera’s Remarks

In a live discussion with India News, Pawan Khera remarked that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “lost the election even after winning it,” while Rahul Gandhi is winning the hearts of the people. Khera suggested that Modi should acknowledge this fact.

Regarding the NDA’s potential third term, Khera claimed that Congress is gradually regaining the public’s trust and moving forward. He emphasized that Congress has traveled 4,000 kilometers to earn votes, challenging Amit Shah to cover even 4 kilometers.

When questioned about why he doesn’t heed the Prime Minister, Khera responded that PM Modi has been fixated on one issue for a decade and should occasionally address the public’s concerns. He criticized Modi for not presenting a “balance sheet” of his tenure, asserting that the opposition has successfully countered Modi’s arrogance.

Watch:

Direct Attack on the Government

Khera also targeted the BJP over the Manipur situation, stating that PM Modi only spoke about Manipur on the Chief Minister’s birthday. He labeled Modi as merely a “manager,” claiming that true leadership belongs to Rahul Gandhi.

On the Agniveer Yojana, Khera argued that the program, which allows PM Modi to remain in office indefinitely while soldiers retire after four years, represents a grave injustice. He expressed a desire for a debate between Rahul Gandhi and PM Modi, noting that Modi has consistently refused such a debate.

Khera Warns Against Cheap Politics on Security, Criticizes BJP’s Instigation of Anti-Congress Sentiment

July 15, 2024, 10:39 am

Congress hit back at the BJP on Monday after some of its leaders accused Rahul Gandhi, a leader of the grand old party, of frequently inciting violence against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that “cheap politics” should not be played regarding the security of leaders. They also pointed out that the entire BJP continuously provokes people against its own leadership.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Congress leader Pawan Khera said, “Cheap politics should not be played on the issue of leaders’ security. The Congress party lost Mahatma Gandhi to Right Wing terrorists. We lost two Prime Ministers to terrorists. We lost our entire Chattisgarh leadership to Left Wing terrorists, under the BJP government’s watch.”

Khera, who also chairs the media and publicity department, slammed the Prime Minister and the BJP, stating, “Prime Minister Modi and the entire BJP have been inciting people against the Congress leadership by spreading vicious lies about Nehru, Indira, and the entire family. They also inexplicably withdrew their SPG security.”

Pawan Khera case: SC clubs FIRs, transfers matter to Hazratganj police station

March 20, 2023, 6:52 pm

On Monday, the Apex Court clubbed the FIRs against Pawan Khera and directed that those FIRs registered in Varanasi and Assam shall be transferred to Hazratganj police station, Lucknow.

In addition, Supreme Court also extended the interim protection from arrest till 10 April. According to a bench led by Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, FIRs registered in Varanasi and Assam will be transferred to Hazratganj police station in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Furthermore, the court also stated that Pawan Khera is free to apply for regular bail in a jurisdictional court. Meanwhile, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that after apologising in court earlier, Khera stated in his rejoinder that it was made in a fair speech.

In a statement Mehta said that Pawan is yet to apologize for his remarks as he claimed that it is his only counsel who has apologized. However, the court noted that Khera is granted interim protection because he apologized.

SG Mehta told the court that the statement was false and that the investigation is looking into who made it. He also questioned how someone could stoop to the level of bringing someone’s parents.

Previously, the Assam and Uttar Pradesh police had filed an affidavit opposing Pawan Khera’s request for the clubbing of FIRs.

SC adjourns hearing on Pawan Khera’s petition for clubbing of FIRs

March 17, 2023, 6:49 pm

The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing on Congress leader Pawan Khera’s petition for clubbing of FIRs filed against him on Friday and granted interim relief until 20 March.

On the request of Pawan Khera’s counsel, a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud adjourned the hearing on his plea. The court stated that it will hear the case on Monday. Earlier, in an affidavit, the Assam and Uttar Pradesh police departments opposed Pawan Khera’s request for the clubbing of FIRs.

Assam police had questioned Khera about his apology in court, while UP police said he is attempting to stall investigations into deliberate utterances of defamatory words relating to one of the country’s highest constitutional functionaries.

The UP and Assam police responded with a counter-affidavit in response to Khera’s request for the clubbing of FIRs. In response, Assam police told the Supreme Court that a closer examination of the available audio video clearly reveals that Pawan Khera has mischievously uttered sentences only with an extreme degree of irresponsibility and at the lowest level of discourse.

Assam Police had also informed the Supreme Court that Pawan Khera had not offered any apology in the petition or after the Court issued its order on February 23, and the submission made before this top court tendering an apology clearly appears to be a practical submission to obtain a preventive order without any repentance.

Assam Police also cited a recent order issued by the Supreme Court, which stated that even a subsequent FIR registered as a leading FIR/First FIR must be investigated by the investigating agency where the subsequent FIR was registered.

Dwarka court grants interim relief to Congress leader Pawan Khera

February 23, 2023, 7:34 pm

On Thursday, the Dwarka court granted interim bail to Congress leader, Pawan Khera, following a order passed by the Apex Court. Khera was arrested at the Delhi Airport by the Assam Police in a case related to an alleged remark against PM Modi.

The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Archana Beniwal, granted interim bail to the Congress leader on a furnishing bond of Rs. 30,000. The court granted the relief after considering the order passed by the SC earlier in the day.

While granting the interim bail, the court also imposed some conditions. The court granted relief after hearing the submissions made by Randeep Surjewala and the Assam Police. The Assam police sought the transit remand of Pawan.

Advocate Randeep submitted to the court that Assam police have not complied with the guidelines of the Arnesh Kumar case. He submitted that the grounds of arrest have not been provided and communicated.

He also said, “I am the pairokar of the person being detained by the police. The matter was taken up today by the Chief Justice of India (CJI). CJI passed an order stating that the person be released on interim bail. CJI was very gracious to pass the order.”

SC directs Dwarka court to grant interim bail to Congress leader Khera

February 23, 2023, 5:03 pm

The Apex Court on Thursday directed the Dwarka Court to grant interim bail to Congress leader, Pawan Khera. In addition, the higher court also issued notice to Assam Police and UP Police regarding Khera’s plea seeking clubbing of FIRs. In a statement, the SC informed that Khera will be released on “interim bail.”

“Till the next date of hearing, the petitioner will be released on interim bail by Dwarka court,” the SC said. Notably, the leader of Congress party, Pawan was arrested by the Assam Police in the national capital. Following his arrest, Khera said, “ready to fight the long battle.”

“We will see (in which case they are taking me). It’s a long battle and I’m ready to fight,” Khera said as Delhi police took him after he was deboarded from an aircraft at Delhi Airport. Delhi Police revealed that the leader was arrested after they received a request from Assam Police for assistance in the arrest of accused Pawan Khera in a case registered with a FIR No. 19/2023, PS Dima Hasao, District Haflong, Assam.

“Based upon the same, requisite local assistance was provided and upon the requisition of Assam Police, accused Shri Pawan Khera was detained from Terminal 1 of IGI Airport and has been subsequently arrested by the IO concerned of Assam Police,” a Delhi Police official told media outlet ANI. “Necessary legal action shall follow,” they added

Congress takes out a sweep at Azad for leaving party, says his GNA’s DNA has been modi-fied

August 26, 2022, 6:51 pm

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh slammed veteran leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on quitting the party on Friday and said Azad betrayed the Congress since his DNA has been “modi-fied”.

“A man who has been treated with the greatest respect by the Congress leadership has betrayed it by his vicious personal attacks which reveals his true character. GNA’s DNA has been modi-fied,” Ramesh tweeted.

A man who has been treated by the greatest respect by the Congress leadership has betrayed it by his vicious personal attacks which reveals his true character. GNA's DNA has been modi-fied.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 26, 2022

Meanwhile, Congress leader Pawan Khera also took a sweep at the veteran leader and said, “When he was taking all the decisions, he proudly belonged to the core group. Now, when others are taking decisions, he labels them as sycophants. The challenges faced by Congress today are because of leaders like him.”

Earlier in the day, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad resigned from the party including from all the positions.

Azad wrote a five-page letter to Congress president Sonia and said senior leaders have been sidelined and a “coterie of inexperienced sycophants” are taking all the decisions. He further said, “Shri Rahul Gandhi or rather worse his security guards and PAs.”

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad severs all ties with Congress Party pic.twitter.com/RuVvRqGSj5
— ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2022

Recounting his association with the Congress Azad said, the Congress party has reached a point of “no return.’

“The entire organizational election process is a farce and a sham. At no place anywhere in the country have elections been held at any level of the organization. Handpicked lieutenants of the AICC have been coerced to sign on lists prepared by the coterie that runs the AICC sitting at 24 Akbar Road,” Azad said.

Hitting on Rahul Gandhi Azad further said, “Since the 2019 elections, the situation in the party has only worsened. After Rahul Gandhi stepped down in a ‘huff’ and not before insulting all the senior Party functionaries who have given their lives to the party in a meeting of the extended Working Committee, you took over as interim President. A position that you have to continue to hold even today for the past three years.”

“This ‘childish’ behavior completely subverted the authority of the Prime Minister and Government of India. This one single action more than anything else contributed significantly to the defeat of the UPA Government in 2014 that was at the receiving end of a campaign of calumny and insinuation from a combination of the forces of the right-wing and certain unscrupulous corporate interests,” the Azad wrote.

Azad continued the attack on Rahul Gandhi and said, “It was worse still the ‘remote control model’ that demolished the institutional integrity of the UPA government now got applied to the Indian National Congress.”

Earlier Congress’s top leadership announced a ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.

“While undoubtedly as the President of the Indian National Congress you played a sterling role in the formation of both the UPA -1 and UPA-2 governments. However, one of the major reasons for this success was that as President you heeded the wise counsel of senior leaders, besides trusting their judgment and delegating powers to them. However unfortunately after the entry of Shri Rahul Gandhi into politics and particularly after January 2013 when he was appointed as Vice President by you, the entire Consultative mechanism which existed earlier was demolished by him,” Azad’s letter read

Moreover, lawyer-turned-politician Jaiveer Shergill also took a jibe at Congress and said leaders across age groups were frustrated with Congress’s ‘coterie culture’. On Wednesday Jaiveer Shergill resigned as Congress spokesperson.

However, before Ghulam Nabi Azad prominent who left the Congress party are Jyotiraditiya Scindia and Jitin Prasada.